Until yesterday–despite the ample evidence that the shale gas boom effects health and safety–only a very few people in Arlington showed any concern for impacts from natural gas drilling in their neighborhoods. That’s all changed now.
Yesterday I received dozens and dozens of emails from people I didn’t know many of whom signed their emails with a message about being a patriot and declaring their conservatism–hardly “tree huggers.” I’m not the least bit surprised but I am a little overwhelmed in trying to respond to everyone. The pattern is predictable all across the United States:
- The Big Gas Mafia rolls into town with promises of great riches.
- They seduce our media, educators, academics and lawmakers.
- They donate to our charities and promise to be a good neighbor.
- Then they start their operations and the awful reality of life in the gas patch sets in.
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nose Bleeds
- Nausea and more
You have been led down the garden path. Welcome to the Gas Patch.
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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I think the tides are turning. People are finally realizing that whatever may be gained financially from O&G, it is offset many times over by the negative impact it has on our health, our environment and our property values.
Fort Worth keeps talking about what a financial engine the O&G business has been. Yet, Fort Worth is millions (or is it billions?) of dollars in the hole.
I hope more people will wake up and try to stop this runaway train before it’s too late.
I think you’re right about the tide, Tracy.
The problem in Fort Worth, I think, is the financial benefits are going to the ones who make the rules and not the citizens.
I asked a state regulator once where they got the specs for equipment that they allowed to operate in my state. Specifically, who decided this was a good idea to do here.
He stated that the industry supplied the data from what they were doing in other states like Wyoming where it had been going on longer and that they adopted those practices, rather than spend a bunch of money reinventing the wheel.
Well, here’s the wheel they modeled after. You can clearly see it’s out of round and there is very little tread left on the tire and its prone to frequent flats and failures.
Not very reassuring when you think about it. There is no other excuse as to why the air in rural Wyoming rivals Los Angeles and Houston. The only source identified in an ongoing 2 year state study is the Jonah gas field and the Pinedale Anticline.
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/more-drilling-proposed-near-pinedale-despite-ozone-spikes/article_505d8229-6b4f-59bb-842a-ed07296280a9.html
“Approximately 94 percent of the VOCs and 60 percent of the NOx believed to contribute to the ozone problem come from natural gas development, according to Wyoming DEQ documents.”
I hate it when people say they are not tree huggers but want the benefits of tree hugging, i.e., a healthy environment. If you won’t be a tree hugger at least be a grass hugger. After all, the native eco-system of north Texas is, tall grass prairie. Oh, but nevermind. Because our ancestors claimed they were not grass-huggers, we have lost 99.5% of our beautiful, tall grass prairie. Scientists now tell us prairies are as rich and ecologically diverse as rain forests. But we plowed it all under or covered it in concrete. Think about it.
Proud tree hugger and grass hugger.
It was bound to happen sooner than later when southern Arlington is being built out so rapidly.
There is hypocrisy for sure in claiming to “not being a tree hugger…BUT.” I think the tree hugging, grass hugging AND ground hugging will soon follow without exception.
Quick Trip at 360 and Sublett/Camp Wisdom would do well to sell those neighborhood gas masks.
Here’s a newsflash: All people – Republicans & Democrats, Communists & Fascists, even tree huggers & grass huggers will experience negative health impacts when exposed to the dangerous chemicals and by-products associated with urban gas drilling. It’s about time Arlington residents had their epiphany.
Last Wednesday Arlingon Planning and Zoning approved yet two more padsites for a Special Use Permit for drilling. One at rush Creek near I20, Bowen and Baird Rd (275 feet from a flood plain). The other is at 360 and Ave H in east Arlington on the Grand Prairie line. Funny the two closest businesses did not know about this development and had I not accidently found the public notice from last month in an obscure publication, they would have found out about this when the trucks rolled up to clear the land..s u r p r i s e ! The old folks with SWAPO neighborhood asses showed up reaking of Geritol packed the council chambers and only 25% (those closest to the development) opposed this. Too bad the majority of them don’t have any long range plans to be here to clean up the mess with their tax dollars.
Only when residents get more involved with their city government will things change at home. Heres hoping that they took the time to email the mayor and city council members threatening to show up on their doorstep if they don’t start acting more concerned for their lives. These city officials are all in bed with the gas industry Civic whores.
You wanna know what’s happening in Arlington? People are starting to get their royalty checks. When they see how little they’re getting, their willingness to support the gas holes dries up.
=)
But, at least 25 percent showed up. I was thinking the same thing. The conservative older generation are usually the only ones who vote so if you could get people to vote over the internet or find another way or make it easy that would help. I believe you can go door to door and help them vote. There are things you can do.
Texas Republicans (and Attorney General Greg Abbott) have tried to define “voter fraud” as helping the elderly vote.
http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/10410/greg-abbotts-voter-fraud-cases-in-south-texas-prove-to-be-a-total-fraud
They are “thrilled” with the new Voter ID Law passed in this last Texas Republican-led legislative session. However, this “law” is being questioned by the courts. These laws will disenfrancise millions of voters ~ voters that usually vote for Democratic Party candidates.
http://blog.chron.com/txpotomac/2011/12/texas-voter-id-law-and-redistricting-may-go-against-the-arc-of-history-ag-holder-says/
Republicans (who are more likely funded by the O&G Industry) know that this next election may devastate their gains in the state and national houses. Making it harder to vote by framing it as “preventing voter fraud,” has been their MO. We’ll see.
I’m alway seeing reference about “patriots” or the frackin’ lovers that haven’t yet realized what may come. A real “patriot” would be for protecting the homeland, the people, the air and the water. Patriots is not a good word to describe them… how about “the misguided”