The following is Texas OGAP’s public comment submitted to the TCEQ regarding their enforcement action against Aruba Petroleum. Anyone can make a public comment. I urge all those who are impacted by Aruba Petroleum’s irresponsible Barnett Shale extraction practices to make their own comment.
Fax your comments to Jennifer Cook, 512-239-3434, by September 5th
To:
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Attn. Jennifer Cook
P.O. Box 13087
MC 175
Austin, TX 78711-3087
From:
Sharon Wilson, organizer
Texas Oil and Gas Accountability Project
RE:
Public Comment Docket #2010-0365-AIR-E; TCEQ ID NUMBER: RN105845135
To Whom it May Concern,
The Texas Oil and Gas Accountability Project thanks TCEQ for the enforcement action taken against Aruba Petroleum for their irresponsible operations on the Ruggiero property in Wise County Texas.
As the Texas OGAP organizer in the Barnett Shale area, I am the go to person for citizens impacted by natural gas extraction activities. Aruba Petroleum is a small operator in the Barnett Shale yet the number of complaints I receive naming Aruba surpasses those from the major operators. Health complaints attributed to Aruba operations range from skin rashes and headaches to bloody noses, neurological problems and seizures.
Aruba has a pattern of irresponsible operations in the Allison, Texas community where the Ruggiero family lives and in other areas of the Barnett Shale including the LBJ Grasslands area where I live. There are currently 38 complaints against Aruba operations. Their disregard for property owners and human health and safety continues despite this enforcement. This indicates that the enforcement action and $35,000 fine assessed is not sufficient to motivate them to operate in a more responsible manner. Rather than rolling the four violations that occurred on January 17, 2010; February 3, 2010; February 27, 2010; and February 28, 2010, into one enforcement with a fine totaling $35,000, a more appropriate deterrent would be a separate $35,000 fine for each violation.
Texas OGAP believes this enforcement and fine are insufficient as a deterrent to prevent Aruba from continuing their pattern of irresponsible behavior that harms human health.
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 is important for you to do, regardless of where you live. Aruba is simply a bad operator, and they only care about getting as much gas as they can at least expense possible. Aruba does nothing that doesn't result in additional revenue or that they aren't made to do.
Aruba is an equal opportunity offender, primarily operating in Wise County. But you could be next!
$35,500 fine for 3 sets of violations rolled into one! And they are still probably crying and whining about that.
Do yourself and neighbor a favor, and fax in a comment and let the TCEQ know where you stand.
I hope some people will comment. It's so important.
Let me comment–the WCEQ is a waste of my time to comment!!
You've got a point.
Anonymous- thank you so much for your support. Just go ahead and keep doing what you're doing, which is complaining, but taking no action. Maybe you should just wait until this bad operator shows up on your front lawn. And who is the WCEQ?