Lack of scrutiny for Tarrant County gas wells questioned
About 30 percent of the gas wells operating in Tarrant County have not been inspected within the past five years. The inspections are the responsibility of the Texas Railroad Commission, which enforces safety and environmental rules for gas drilling.
A recent audit discovered that 46% of the wells in Texas have not been inspected in the past five years!
This is no news to us in Wise County. Here are pictures of an injection well taken just a few days after the September 27, 2007, inspection pronounced the site “safe and clean.” After I made a formal complaint, the RRC did a real inspection and the site was shut-in, the permit pulled and fines accessed against the operator.
Sure, the RRC is understaffed but the incompetence is also deliberate.
The Railroad Commission oversees the oil and gas industry in Texas. It is run by three commissioners, who are elected statewide to six-year terms. Commissioners earn between $92,000 and $137,000 a year.
The three current commissioners each get a substantial amount of their political contributions from the oil and gas industry, according to an analysis of contributions for 2006 by the Web-based watchdog group followthemoney.org.
Chairman Michael Williams, who has been on the commission since 1999, got a third of his contributions — $138,000 out of $400,000, from people and companies in the oil and gas business, during the 2006 election cycle.
Elizabeth Ames Jones, who was appointed to the commission by Gov. Rick Perry in 2005, also got about a third of her contributions from the oil and gas sector — $695,000 out of $2.1 million.
Victor Carrillo, who was appointed by Perry in 2003 and re-elected in 2004, got 54 percent of his contributions from the oil and gas sector, $194,000 out of $355,000.
Online: www.followthemoney.org
Texas Railroad Commission, www.rrc.state.tx.us
I call it what it is: protection money.
Now, too late, Tarrant County is paying attention. Now they want to open a satellite RRC office to inspect wells in their area because they’re concerned about runoff and their drinking water.
Protecting the water in your county is a good start but, as I’ve pointed out numerous times, IT ALL RUNS DOWNHILL! Wise County water becomes Tarrant County water! That’s not a hard concept.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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INCOMPETENT !! You are too nice to them. It is a lot worse than simply being incompetent!
You’re right! It’s much worse and more sinister than mere incompetence.
If the RRC is incompetent, why does the rest of the nation look to Texas to see how best to safeguard our pipelines, protect our citizens, etc.? We have the premier oil and gas regulatory board in the country. Perhaps you’re just a hateful partisan who would rather see a 76-year old oil man in the hen-house.
And save the “attack the woman” crud, Sharon. I AM a woman!
Dale Henry wouldn’t know clean energy if it slapped him in the face. He’s from the old school of energy. We need people like Michael Williams who talk the clean energy talk and walks the walk by advocating projects like FutureGen and alternative fuel vehicles.
Who led the fight on getting rid of dangerous pipe fittings? Williams
Who leads the fight for clean energy in Texas? Williams
Who leads the fight for diversifying energy in Texas? Williams
It’s a new day in energy and Williams gets it.
Well, anonymous woman: This is about the most twisted post I’ve even received!
I can’t stop laughing about your promotion of a man who is a paid protector of oil and gas.
Thank you so much for the belly laugh.
Thanks for the proof that he is a “paid protector”.
I have provided that proof many times on this blog and, if you will read the Star-Telegram article linked in the blog post, you will see that they also provided proof.
Sharon, why are you so hateful towards such an inspiring, African-American leader?
Sorry, the race card doesn’t play in this game.
The gender card works for you, so I think the “race card” should as well.
You are so adamantly against this man who has inspired so many young African Americans in our state and has been able to accomplish what no African Americans have been able to do before him.
He is a strong man, a strong leader, and a wonderful representative of our great state. And I say this as a lifelong Democrat.
It’s disappointing to know people still think they way you do in the 21st century.
You are so full of crap! Williams is no African American leader. Ask this ENTIRE African American COMMUNITY how they feel about Michael Williams and the job he has done. Ask Rev. Hudson who is a REAL African American leader.
You should quit now. Yesterday I started deconstructing your comment above with these claims:
Who led the fight on getting rid of dangerous pipe fittings? Williams
Who leads the fight for clean energy in Texas? Williams
Who leads the fight for diversifying energy in Texas? Williams
It’s a new day in energy and Williams gets it.
The facts and the truth are devastating to Williams. I don’t make reckless claims. I have the data to back up what I say so you should just stop now before you get in any deeper. =)
“Williams is no African American leader.”
Talk about a belly laugh…
He’s black.
He’s a leader.
I’m black and a Democrat and he is highly regarded in my community (Oak Cliff). We wish he would switch parties.
I just noticed you credited me with the facts about Williams’ record. I am a different anonymous than the one who posted that.
And I would appreciate you not using vulgar language toward me saying I’m full of “c#@p.” Thank you.
All the comments from Anonymous in this thread came from the same IP address. So, either you are letting other people comment on this thread from your computer or… Oopsie!
or there are hundreds of people where I work…in the oil and gas industry. Oops!
Do you only have one computer where you work?
No wonder you support Williams. He does love him some BIG OIL! LOL!