The City of Denton is working on updating their drilling ordinance. I’ve sent them comments via email but tonight I made comments at the public meeting. Here’s what I had to say minus the ad lib.
Sharon Wilson
Allen, TX 75002Require electric motors on rigs and line compressors to prevent ongoing pollution like this.
I am a certified Optical Gas Imaging Thermographer with the same certification TCEQ and industry has. The same instructor who certifies TCEQ investigators certified me.
I’ve been taking videos in Denton for over a year using a FLIR camera that makes visible the invisible air pollution from oil and gas facilities. Most of these emissions are ongoing and can and should be prevented.
Pressurized flowback tanks should be mandated. Three workers died recently from exposure to flowback fumes. Residents in Southlake & Colleyville did testing at the peak of flowback and found very high levels of dangerous toxins in their yards. We tested during the very end of flowback in the Vintage area and detected benzene over TCEQ long-term levels.
Make vapor recovery units mandatory.
A video I took in South Texas was connected by an A&M atmospheric scientist to a spike of hydrocarbons on a TCEQ air monitor 20 miles away from the facility.
The facility here (Rayzor West Gas Unit) is upwind from Selwyn School.
Establishing a protective setback is the best way to protect residents. The setback should be a minimum of 1500’ with no exceptions including the reverse setback for new construction.
Flaring should be prohibited except in an emergency as defined by the Texas Railroad Commission, or instead of venting emissions from the gas buster.
Require 3rd party Air monitoring paid for by industry. Air monitoring is not preemptive because you are not setting new standards above the state, but attempting to ensure compliance with state standards.
Prohibit pits: Waste pits are primitive and a sign of bad industry practice, greed and laziness. Even the new BLM rules prohibit pits.
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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Thank you, Sharon, for all you do. I share your website with everyone I know, and especially people who are staunch “Drill, baby, drill, y’all!! …. but even those people are becoming fewer, as people like you bring all of the dangers to light. You and too many others to name have devoted your lives to protecting the innocent.
You remind a lot of the late, great Molly Ivins. 🙂
Saying “Thank you” seems so inadequate, but I hope you know how appreciated you are by so many.
It’s nice to hear “thank you.” Often I only hear what more I could have, should have, or need to do.
So, thank you.
Thank you!