UPDATE: For the best reporting to date on this case see: Better reporting on Range Resources water contamination case in Parker County, it is a long but essential read if you are interested in this case.
I know this press release was written trying to defend themselves but it just makes them look even more pathetic.
I know their drill, we’ve been through this before. If they test enough, they will eventually get a test they like. If they mess around long enough, maybe the water will flow and clear up some.
In the meantime, the homeowners have no water. Last time I checked, you can’t live without water.
UPDATED: This sound tract was added at the suggestion of a reader.
| August 6, 2010 | Landowner files complaint with RRC District Office. Field inspection performed, gas odor noted. |
| August 10, 2010 | RRC staff inspect the Range Butler Unit No. 1-H and Teal Unit No. 1-H production wells nearest the well property. 30 pounds pressure observed on bradenhead of Butler Unit No. 1-H |
| August 11, 2010 | RRC staff inspect the well property and collect water samples. |
| August 17, 2010 | RRC staff return to the well property and re-sample the water well to address quality control issues with first samples. |
| August 26, 2010 | RRC staff return to well property to meet landowner’s consultant and collect gas samples. |
| August 27, 2010 | RRC staff contacts Range and requests gas samples from Range’s production well. |
| September 2, 2010 | Range Production Company samples gas from their Butler Unit No. 1-H well (bradenhead). |
| September 16, 2010 | RRC contacts Range and requests additional gas samples to include bradenhead and production gas, and requests that Range pressure test their well. |
| September 20, 2010 | Range collects samples of bradenhead and production gas. |
| October 13, 2010 | RRC staff contacts local water well driller to discuss the occurrence of natural gas in water wells drilled in the area. RRC staff requests documentation. |
| October 14, 2010 | Range performs pressure test of production casing from a point just below the top of cement to the surface. The well holds 845 pounds per square inch (psi), and no leaks were observed. |
| October 25, 2010 | RRC staff contact Range and request additional samples of gas from the Butler Unit No. 1-H to include gas lift, bradenhead and production gas. |
| October 26, 2010 | Range collects additional gas samples at the same time that the EPA collects gas and water samples. |
| November 23, 2010 | EPA sends results of gas and water samples to RRC staff in Austin and requests attendance at a proposed meeting. |
| December 1, 2010 | RRC staff call EPA to discuss sample results. Learns that the meeting has been postponed. |
| December 3, 2010 | RRC receives letter from Range who agrees to take additional actions. |
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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Dealing with the RRC is only valuable for entertainment. As an ordinary resident who lives on the land, expect NO RESULTS. The information is only useful in a future laughable movie scene!
This is what happened to Amber Smith- the TRRC just kept testing her water until they got the test result they wanted. Amber has high levels of arsenic, strontium and other contaminants, and it's good fashioned DRILLING MUD giving it that lovely dark grey color. Ok, I'm not expert by any stretch, but I would think the prescence of drilling mud alone should be proof enough that her water is contaminated as a result of drilling. Amber and her family still do not have clean water or a solution because the Industry's bed buddies in Austin decided to once again, side with the folks that fund their campaigns and make politcal contributions, even when they aren't actually running for office. It's a service that's bought and paid for at the expense of the taxpayer and homeowner.
Right on Tim! Our tax money at work! We are paying for and funding our own demise! Our money is ruining us! Welcome to Texas!
I will release the unsightly truth of the Trinity Aquifer right now. The Trinity runs from OK all the way down to Brownsville. It also meets up with the Edwards Aquifer that feeds the Hill Country.
The Statement Released by the EPA clearly states:
page 5 of 11:
The contaminants identified herein are present in the Trinity Aquifer.
http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/pdf/range_order.pdf.
Sharon, please publish the picture of the aquifer I sent to abcalliance.
The water in the aquifer moves very slowly. Still working the details out on that. It gets replaced and refreshed even slower.
This one piece of contamination, clearly stated by the Trinity Aquifer means, the entire state of Texas has contaminated water.
OK, over exaggeration: half of the state of Texas Water is contaminated.
The ironic part: Perry may end up drinking it too!
As you're readiing that timline, play the Benny Hill music in the background for added affect:
I also want to point out that in the WFAA report, the EPA was able to determine trough isotope 'fingerprinting' that Range was responsible. TRRC Industry whores Michael Williams and the soon to be out of job Victor Carrillo are taking sides with their bed buddies. Williams states that the TRRC has been 'On this since day one", but you'll notice that they haven't done jack shit.
What do you expect, Williams was the same commissioner who stated "there was nothing" in the staff Sunset Commission report. Really? Did he read the report? ALL IT DID WAS CRITICIZE THE RRC!
RRC stomps on citizens, FED's stop on RRC, ain't Karma a bitch!
Just wait until the bloodbath on Dec 15-this will be the day that the Industry sends in their PR flacks and other paid liars to cry and whine about regulation (that we have yet to see) and if the TRRC and/or the TCEQ get any tougher (translation: start doing their job) billions of tax dollars will disappear, thousands of jobs will be at risk or lost, and the economy will completely collapse around us. I sure hope all the Shale-inaires show show up to support their beloved Industry. (With the average royalty payment being $35, I wouldn't expect the parking for limos will be crowded)
Elizabeth -you-bulit-your-home-on-top-of-a-landfill-that's-what's-causing-the-odors-Jones' seat is up in two years. If the only experience you need to have to be a Commissioner is 1) Being a Republican and 2) preparing an operator's tax return, then I think I'll run against her. Any volunteers to be campaign manager, etc?
I'll help with that effort.
Oh, we all know it's a long shot. Industry wouldn't be able to get off the floor from laughing, much more give me political or campiagn contributions, but it could be 1) A lot of FUN 2) Send the Industry into a spin and 3) Give us Texans a real voice to our REAL concerns. Since I donlt have a 'track record' to defend, this could be quite interesting, particularly when it came to debate. Porter knew he was outgunned by Weems, and would be publicly emabarassed if he debated, so he didn't. I love Jeff, but I don't think he made a very big issue out of Porter failing to debate him in a public forum.
Sharon, maybe what you could do is post the videos or the links to the video 'debate' Weems and Porter made a few months back. Porter's ignorance really shines. Porter is your new Commissioner, Y'all.
Tim, go for it. I'll volunteer to help.