This is breaking news!
The results of an Ambient Air Monitoring Analysis contracted by Mayor Calvin Tillman show “amazing and very high levels” of toxins.
DISH, Texas, a tiny community in Denton County, is the epicenter of Barnett Shale drilling development.
The study is available HERE but it’s a large file and takes a while to download. An assessment of the results from an award-winning scientists will be available later today. Wilma Subra, MacAuthur (Genius) Award winner evaluated the study. Please read the entire evaluation to understand the seriousness of the findings that reveal “amazing and very high levels” of known and suspected human carcinogens and neurotoxins. Here are a few highlights:
9203 Chisum – The concentration of Benzene in the air exceeded the Long-term ESL by 8.7 times the standard. Carbon Disulfide was present in a concentration that exceeded the Short-term (10.7 times) and Long-term (107 times) ESLs.
Air Field – corner SE – The concentration of Benzene in the air exceeded the Short-term ESL by 1.45 times and the Long-term ESL by 55 times the standard.
Acute impacts to health will occur with these concentrations of chemicals in the air. The cancer and neurotoxins will also have an impact over the long term.
Mayor Tillman tried every avenue available with state agencies–TCEQ and TRC–and with direct appeals to industry, but they continually found no problem with DISH air quality. Read this post and follow the links for accounts of state and industry negligence and malpractice.
It’s time for the EPA to intervene in Texas!
For more information, contact:
Calvin Tillman
Mayor, DISH, TX
(940) 453-3640
Please note: DISH, TX is in the middle of the D/FW Metroplex. Measurements from other areas in the Barnett Shale reveal the same chemicals.
UPDATE:
Evaluation of Town of DISH, Texas Ambient Air Monitoring Analysis
The DISH study can be compared to any area in the Barnett Shale with drilling activity. The same chemicals will be present.
Other blogs and media sources that picked this up:
This Could Happen or [is] Happening to us in MI- Open your EYES
INDEPENDENT STUDY PROVES GAS INDUSTRY DISHES UP TOXIC AIR IN DISH, TX
Fort Worth Weekly’s Blotch: Just Because It Looks Beautiful Outside…
Star-Telegram: Study shows high level of potentially toxic air pollution in DISH
Star-Telegraph Blog: S.O.S
This post was updated.
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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This should put the issue on the front burner!
How the hell does the mayor find toxins and yet state agencies fail too? ….oh wait, don't answer that. 😉
The Texas State Agencies, can't hear anything, see anything or smell anything. Everything is fine here! Just ask 'em.
Here in West Virginia we have oil and gas drilling, Chesapeake is very active with 4000 permits to drill relatively deep shale. The biggest problem here so far is the water being used for fracing and illegally discharged into streams.
We have enough problems with mining related acid causing sterile streams with yellow and red sludge coating every rock and pebble, mining discharges are at least stationary point sources, but the drillers can truck their poisoned drilling fluids across a ridge and dump into a stream where there isn't any drilling in the whole watershed.
I'm sure air pollution is a problem here also, but we don't have urban smog problems like Dallas-Fort Worth or Houston as a mainly rural state.
Thanks for the information, we need it here in WV as well. Keep up the good work!