Fracking is on the rise in southwestern Pennsylvania, leading to more plastic production and harsh consequences for residents. Washington County is heavily fracked, with almost 4,000 fracking wells on top of current and legacy coal mines. Sarah Martik, Executive Director of the Center for Coalfield Justice, says conversations are happening at the national and global level about fracking, impacting the way the fossil fuel industry wants to operate in the area. She adds the demand for more plastic is driving some of the increased fracking in the area.

(Reported by Danielle Smith, reporter from Keystone State News Service, Published at 9:46 A.M.)