Of course, this is will need to be a never ending series.
You might remember how the Texas Railroad Commission fiercely defends it’s turf. You might remember the indignation expressed by Commissioner David Porter when another agency wanted to take forceful action against lawbreakers:
“Today the EPA finally made a decision based on science and fact versus playing politics with the Texas economy. The EPA’s withdrawal of the emergency order against Range Resources upholds the Railroad Commission Final Order that I signed concluding that Range is not responsible for any water contamination in Parker County. Al Armendariz and the EPA’s Region Six office are guilty of fear mongering, gross negligence and severe mishandling of this case. I hope to see drastic changes made in the way the regional office conducts business in the future – starting with the termination of Al Armendariz.”
Despite the TurfWar with feds, when a frack tank recently exploded at an injection/disposal well site, sending large pieces of schrapnel onto residential property, The Texas Railroad Commission couldn’t be bothered.
Confusion reigns over well explosion investigation
Judy Sheridan
May 7, 2012
An RRC spokesperson told the Democrat that the fire marshal was looking into the incident, but a regional representative told the fire marshal that the company had hired a third party to conduct the investigation.
The Parker County Fire Marshal Shawn Scott started an investigation but stopped short because he has been rebuked by the Texas Railroad Commission before.
“They’ve always shunned us in the past,” he said. “At the drilling or well sites, they’ve given us an elbow and told us to get lost.”
More shunning: You might also remember that Porter threatened to have a Duke environmental science student arrested when she wanted to walk with him and discuss environmental issues.
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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They are a VERY dangerous organization–avoid that RRC at all costs, if you are an ordinary citizen.
It’s one thing to be dangerous and have an actual brain. It’s entirely different when someone is dangerous because they lack the capacity to even think. David Porter is that person. If you look at the TRRC website on the links about the Commissioners, you’ll see someone tried really hard to give this jackass some kind of credibility. Such as adding ‘small business owner’ following the fact he was a CPA for over 20 years and did some of these dirtbags’ taxes for them. If you ever had the chance to watch any of the videos when he was sitting around fogging up a mirror…I mean running for Commissioner, this fool’s favorite answer to questions was “I DON’T KNOW’. He knows nothing about oil and gas, and has proven that time and time again. Clearly, someone who can think writes his OpEd pieces and talking points for him; get him off his script, he panics and runs..literally. If you have the audacity to catch up with him and ask to speak to him longer or at another time, he threatens to have the police forceably remove you from the state.
This is the same bought and paid for Industry Whore that referred to two negatively impacted families as ‘unsatisfied landowners’ because they complained to the TRRC about spills, leaks and emissions.
David Porter is dangerous because he can’t think on hi own, and certainly doesn’t have the first clue to what to do or say unless it’s written down for him.
Barry Smitherman is too busy spending most of his time running for an office he hasn’t even decided on yet. Might explain why he bashes Obama so much, and spends most of his time cheerleading for the Industry. As if Industry doesn’t self promote and spend tens of millions on advertising and lobbying already.
Spend some time looking through the TRRC’s website-you’ll be surprised at some of the things you’ll see. Most recently was seeing there’s and actual budget for site clean up AND ‘plugging abandoned wells’. Our tax dollars at work.
I agree with what you said on another post: I need a like button for comments.
The RRC has several main objectives–but #1 is to prevent any evidence to be introduced into the public record whatsoever documenting that any O&G, or energy company has done anything wrong—-ESPECIALLY DAMAGE TO DRINKING WATER IN TX! If such evidence in advertently introduced, the RRC will undertake (using all thier available resources, including goons) to have that evidence removed or the initiator of that evidence damaged beyond recognition!! Know it well!
TRRC not allowing Fire Marshal’s to do their job? Wait until some firefighters get killed at a well incident.
Hey ghostblogger, good point about firefighters risk getting killed…did ya hear that two oil and gas ASSociations are duing the City of Arlington for a new fee they are charging per well to get the fired dept. better responsive to emergency urban drilling calls and events? Yep doesn’t surprise me…hope we win and they go away….our sweet spot can’t be that frign’ tasty at these low NG prices…ha ha ha!!!!
suing yeah they say they offer FREE training..no need to talk to anyone else..they R the experts…experts in taking short cuts!!!!! They don’t want our firemen to learn just how dangerous this is to the public… although they already know. Too bad even if they get the training and equip they need that it doesn’t do jack to stop the toxic effluents tresspassing off the sites and into our lungs just on preproduction activities for each well.
I’m glad the drillers are suing Arlington. Perhaps our City Council will now get it through their heads that the drillers are NOT their friends. Friends don’t sue friends.
If they are sueing, it’s because the GASHOLES know that they are going to an oil soaked Tx court. God bless our system–we need help!
They were bedfellows as long as the industry was getting their way and determining the rules. We got to see a glimpse of their true colors when they failed to get their way.
Documenting the failure of the RRC….Hmmmm, better buy more disk space.
Just found a real “gem” about the TRRC. First, go to the PMSA Texas page (they have one for each state):
http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/comm/StatePages/Texas.htm?nocache=2158
Click “Texas pipeline profile: enforcement data”, bringing you to:
http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/comm/reports/stenforce/StateEnfDet_state_TX.html?nocache=2840
Click the “Compliance Actions” tab. Note the number of “Compliance Actions Taken” versus “Number of Penalties Assessed”!
For gas pipelines in 2010, 580 Compliance Actions taken, versus 7 Penalties taken. Wow, that will keep them in line!
Louisiana has fewer Compliance Actions, but a better ratio of Penalties for most years. Strangely, Georgia is excellent in this ratio the last few years.