There has been a spill at the Argyle Central Facility and despite the FACT that we have had no rain in over a week, the Texas Railroad Commission said the fluid that “smells like vomit” and gave my friend a headache and severe nausea, is “rainwater.”
The spill was discovered at 7:45 yesterday morning and calls were made to the following agencies:
- Denton Fire Marshall
- TCEQ
- Texas Railroad Commission – They finally came and took a sample of the water but they will only test for chlorides because they said they did not see any sheen on the water. (For more RRC ineptitude keep reading.)
- It was also reporter online to the National Response Center
As of 11:30 AM, no one came. No one. Not even the “First Responders.”
Here is an update that was posted on the ABCAlliance blog just before midnight last night.
Ok, Jayme is overwhelmed, and is suffering health effects, so I’m bringing you all the update. (I wish it were better news than documenting a highway salute, so brace yourself.)
It is has been a terrible day and the vomit smell is back stronger then ever. Calls went to TCEQ, Texas RRC, National Response Center and the fire marshal. TCEQ balked, the fire marshal ignored us, NRC was supposed to call Jayme with a number, and the Railroad Commission thinks the liquid is rain water.
This just in from the Department of Duh: it has not rained in almost a week.
A RRC inspector told Jayme they took a sample of it and the produced water and would test for salt content. They did not see a sheen or anything else to make them think they needed to test for anything else. They were asked to look at those containers. They said the people there told them they were empty. The inspectors were told to look for yourself, and refused at first, and then, upon Jayme’s insistence, said they would.
Inspector went on to say that the containers are there for the overflow of produced water that build up on the weekends when the trucks cannot come empty them. And he said the site is still under construction so there is really nothing there.
To say that there is nothing there is to say, in essence, I’m blind, deaf and dumb.
Someone might take her some chicken soup in the morning for spending her day on high alert, doing what none of us should have to do … as one member said today, “this watching for spills, reporting fumes, dropping our children off at school in a cloud then having to drive around to verify the source, blogging, calling hotlines, filing affidavits, keeping logs, public speaking, etc………..this should not be our job! This should not be our life! This should NOT be happening.”
Suggesting that the stinky water, that was not there the day before, is rainwater, despite the fact that it has not rained, reminds me of the time they said the sickly sweet stench was rotting tree roots, or that Runner Susan’s swimming pool was leaking uphill, or that bubbles that light are normal settling. Such is life in the Barnett Shale altered universe. You really owe it to yourself to come visit, it’s a real freak show.
Like I said at the Dallas showing of GASLAND last night: There is no motivator for getting people to show up at the city council meetings like a tour through Argyle and Bartonville. Get a busload and call me. I can take you to see Hell on Earth. We can swing by DISH and Allison while we’re out.
Yesterday’s spill was brought to you by Spilliams.
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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More 'bubbly mystery water' shows up in culverts in Bartonville. Water seems to be seeping out of no where and is very slippery, has an oily sheen and is leaving a white marker on the road. 5th case of 'bubbly mystery water' in Bartonville Subdivision to date.
Oh, and is making my hand burn where I touched it.
Like posted earlier, it has not rained in over a week, and all other culverts are dry.
I have been there. They are all lovely, kind people and were just living their lives before gas drilling arrived. Please do visit. They will gladly give you a tour. I agree with the post- this should not be "Their life and unpaid job."
Sharon – really appreciate all your hard work and dedication!
I always enjoy giving people tours. That's why almost anytime I speak to a group, meeting or other gathering, such as the showing of Gasland last night at the Angelika, I give out my address. I can't really give you the full blown Texas Sharon Tour, but you're more than welcome to stop by-and, as I always say, bring your cameras, because your friends will not believe you.
Its amazing that everyone in Texas government doesn't have to wear neck braces from constantly having to look the other way.
Here in Arkansas we just had a budget referendum to add in the cost for them to be distributed to all state and local officials.
We asked the O&G industry to pay but of course they said it wasn't their fault as all the officials were spineless when they came here.
Tim and Christine are a beautiful family that will graciously give you a tour as well. Tim, you are correct, until a person actually sees it, it is diffucult to believe this can happen to anyone in our county.
I have to caution people, it is quite a jolt to realize what the oil/gas companies can actially do to your personal property. Be ready! Tim and Christine, I appreciate your candor and bravery.
Really – everyone needs to get out and go to these peoples homes. See for yourselves if you do not believe there is a concern.
I recommend anyone taking the tour first get one of those $40 mask. I was driving around my area checking out all the gas wells/gas plants/compressor station and I developed flu like symptoms and broke out with bumps on my arms and back of the neck – wont do that again! I think the pollution in my area is mostly air pollution,not counting the landfarms.