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Texas Sharon's Bluedaze

Fracking News

My Letter in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

October 20, 2009 By TXsharon

I couldn’t help myself when I read the letter from a woman who supposedly lived in Texas and said we had such tight drilling regulations blah, blah, blah. After I vomited, I wrote this letter that was printed today.

Letters to the editor
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A worse fate

Cindy Ninesling wrote, “natural gas companies are bound by very strict federal regulations” (“Drilling Means Jobs,” Oct. 15 letters). This is not entirely true. The oil and gas industry enjoys broad exemptions from every one of our federal environmental statutes. Her letter also leaves a false impression that all is well with drilling in Texas.

The Trinity Aquifer in Texas now has a plume of toluene from a gas well blowout during a frack job. Several animals died from drinking the water and the residents are now left with unusable water. One family lost everything — business and home — because they couldn’t afford the expense of hauling water. The company responsible says there is no proof, although toluene is commonly used in drilling. A Cheney-era exemption from our Safe Drinking Water Act allows the drillers to escape responsibility because fracking is unregulated.

In DISH, Texas, a tiny town of 200, with several compressor stations and pipelines, three young women have suffered strokes, many people are sick and animals have died. A recent ambient air study showed toxins, carcinogens and neurotoxins at “amazing and very high levels.” There is no other industry in or near the town.

Unemployment is high in Texas. Many of the drilling jobs are only temporary. However, what good is a job if you lose your health or if your water and air are contaminated?

There are some things worse than unemployment. Ask the citizens of DISH and areas in the Barnett Shale.

SHARON WILSON
Decatur, Texas
The writer is a member of the steering committee of the Texas Oil and Gas Accountability Project.

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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Filed Under: LTE

Comments

  1. Robert says

    October 20, 2009 at 3:45 pm

    The Gas Industry assumes that people don't talk across state lines or across continents for that matter, SURPRISE! Thanks for helping Pittsburgh residents learn the truth by shooting holes in this woman's "spin."

  2. Anonymous says

    October 20, 2009 at 8:05 pm

    Good letter, Sharon Wilson. We're being ruined by Big Gas in Texas! Wonder if the Feds will do anything to help?

  3. don Young says

    October 21, 2009 at 12:48 am

    I could not have said it better. Keep ringing dem bells!

Stalk TXsharon

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