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About those new TCEQ rules for oil & gas

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Anyone who ever had high hopes the TCEQ would do anything to regulate the Big Gas Mafia in Texas, stand on your head now!

We have to always keep in mind who is in charge at the TCEQ and who is in charge of those who are in charge at the TCEQ. Those of us living and breathing in the Barnett Shale have repeatedly been through the TCEQ’s EPIC FAIL to regulate anything to do with the oil and gas industry in Texas.
As Ramon Alvarez, Ph.D., Senior Scientist for EDF, said in his lament about wasted time working to “help TCEQ do the right thing,” the TCEQ staff was overwhelmed by “industry firepower” and relentless bullying.

The TCEQ’s initial proposal in July would have established a basic framework that provided greater assurances of protectiveness to the public. But industry firepower overwhelmed the TCEQ staff, which had little, if any, apparent support from their Commissioners. The final rule was gutted with so many exceptions and loopholes (see below) that it almost makes me wonder if there is sufficient environmental benefit left to justify the regulatory burden. Especially troubling was the number of sweeping changes made to the rule during a 6-week continuance, out of the public eye, during which time staff was asked to attempt to resolve industry concerns.

Is it a coincidence that the new rules take effect on April Fool’s day?

The Star-Telegram has a lightweight report HERE.
The industry chummy publication, Platts, has a glowing report HERE.
For the best understanding of how the rules were changed and what went wrong, see Ramon’s blog post: TCEQ Buckles On Oil & Gas Rules Under Pressure From Industry. Oh, and Ramon, you can stop standing on your head now.
The Agenda and some video clips are HERE. If I can ever get the video to play, I might upload some clips to YouTube and update this post with video.

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.

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    After I finally figured out the TCEQ some 2-3 years ago, I renamed the organization to be the WCEQ (WCEQ = Worthless Commission on Environmental Quality)!

  2. Anonymous says

    After I finally figured out the TCEQ some 2-3 years ago, I renamed the organization to be the WCEQ (WCEQ = Worthless Commission on Environmental Quality)!

  3. Anonymous says

    Sorry for posting an off topic question here, does anyone follow the new FM-Shiloh Air Monitor stats regularly (on TCEQ page)? I do not, but noticed this morning at 7am there was a fairly widespread event with elevated levels of just about everything. Is this a daily occurence where Williams is conducting maintenance or something? thanks

  4. zoe says

    It is just daily life on the shale.

    some days i can breath without my head spinning literally, and some days i can't.

    i can't drive through that area of flower mound anymore.

  5. TXsharon says

    The Flower Mound monitor shows the similar numbers on the 27th and 28th. If you watch it, you will see this happens quite often. Someone needs to monitor it daily. There are an awful lot of different chemicals going into the air. NO ONE HAS EVER STUDIED WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ALL THESE CHEMICALS MIX IN YOUR BODY. And TCEQ does not even monitor many of the most dangerous chemicals.

  6. Anonymous says

    In 2010, 60 odor and health complaints were made to the TCEQ near those gas drilling production sites in Flower Mound. None of them resulted in a violation! Yet many residents complain constantly. The TCEQ is worthless.
    They are slowly killing us here and our state officials are allowing it to happen.

  7. TXsharon says

    You get what you vote for. I know some of us voted for change but 70% of Texans voted for toxic air and contaminated water and cancer.