Questions raised over Fort Worth air testing
by CHRIS HAWES / WFAA/TV
Sadlier wasn’t giving council members the whole story. TCEQ did not test for benzene at 118 sites. TCEQ said a toxic vapor analyzer, designed to reveal the total amounts of chemicals in the air, revealed they didn’t have to. “Very few of those sites did we have detectable limits,” Sadlier.
What Sadlier didn’t explain, was what he actually meant by detectable. Channel 8 has learned that TCEQ investigators are only required to collect an air sample, if the total chemicals in the air are more than 140 times the average amount for the metroplex. TCEQ stresses that investigators also consider smells and visible emissions when deciding to take an air sample, and point out the air sample canisters are costly – about $500 a piece.
I know how TCEQ can get money for better, more scientific testing! They could exercise their “enforcement arm” and actually fine industry for their abuses.
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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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You know it seems strange to me a middle class working and retired neighborhood manage to come up with the money for our own air testing but a goverment agency in a state that seems to be doing so well (according to governor "good hair") can't find the money. There is money for security and travel expenses so the governor can travel all around the state to campaign for re-election. Just think how many air canisters the state could provide if Perry had to pay his own campaign travel expenses. Next thing you know we will be asking China or Iraq for the money for air testing. Oh wait that is for campaign contributions sorry.
Thank goodness their is still media out there investigating and not pandering to big business or government.
Good point. I totally agree! We need a major change in our state government. Priorities are wrong as often happens when one person has the purse strings too long.
It's time to change out the politicians in Austin–vote 'em out. If they're IN, then they're OUT!
We need to keep the politicians who are actually working for us like Lon Burnam and Wendy Davis and many others who are doing the right thing.
We need to vote smart.