Educate Yourself

To give you a better understanding of exactly why the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's (TCEQ) entire structure and procedural policies need to be reevaluated and changed, click on the link below and read an excellent investigative report that reveals the glaring "holes in the cheese" and why citizens have a high level of distrust of the TCEQ and their ability to protect our health and safety!

The Texas Gas Industry's Potemkin Village Tour

Are industry and TCEQ undermining good science? September 22, 2010 by: Forrest Wilder

In May, we broke the story that TCEQ officials had suppressed information on elevated benzene levels from natural gas drilling activity in Fort Worth. After the story was picked up by other media, TCEQ promised to get its act together.

But documents obtained by the Observer show that the oil and gas industry is sabotaging even minor TCEQ efforts to study the problem… and the agency seems to be doing little to overcome the resistance.

Pollution from oil and gas activity has been a hot topic in Texas, especially after Al Armendariz – now the regional EPA administrator – estimated last year that the “oil and gas sector likely has greater emissions than motor vehicles” in the five-county Dallas-Fort Worth metro area.

TCEQ also conducted helicopter fly-overs of industrial sites along the Gulf Coast and in the Metroplex that detected large plumes of hydrocarbons. Later, agency analysts took a closer look at 20 of the sites and found that 14 of them were polluting above their permitted limits. READ MORE...

In 2009, Tarrant County had an 8-hour average ozone reading of 86 ppb at two locations, one in far north Fort Worth near Keller and another at Eagle Mountain Lake.

Both were the highest readings in the state and well above the 2008 revised standard of 75 ppb and much higher than the proposed rule changes.

In recent months, the gas drilling industry has increased their use of both of these procedures, and what you don't know CAN hurt you!

NCTCA has adopted the position that "Forced Pooling" is a de facto eminent domain "taking" of your mineral estate for private gain, and a Rule 37 Waiver is in fact legally sanctioned THEFT of your mineral estate.

The drilling companies take your minerals (if approved by the Railroad Commission) whether or not you want to sell, and you are told what you will take $$$ for them. The up-side.....they will at least pay you.

Rule 37 Exception: They will take your minerals (if approved by the Railroad Commission) and will NOT pay for them at any time. This is becoming the most popular method, among producers of natural gas, of drilling mineral interests that are unwilling to lease. The up-side....there is none!

Whether you have signed a mineral lease or not, your personal property and mineral rights can be overridden........ and it's already happening!

Drinking water protected? THINK AGAIN

HYDRAULIC FRACTURING Typically, hydraulic fracturing involves high-pressure injection of fluids and sand to fracture rock formations, prop the fractures open with sand, to enable more oil or gas to flow to the well. After fracturing, some of the fluids remain stranded underground. These fluids may include hazardous chemicals such as biocides, diesel fuel, acids, metals, ethylene glycol, corrosion inhibitors, and other chemicals.

Hydraulic fracturing often occurs just after a well has been drilled, although many wells are re-fractured one or more times after a well goes into production.

REGULATIONS FALL SHORT
• Americans get half of their fresh drinking water from underground sources. In 2005, the oil and gas industry was granted an exemption from the federal Safe Drinking Water Act,making oil and gas the only industry allowed to inject toxic fluids directly into good quality groundwater without oversight by the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency.

• At the state level, most oil and gas agencies do not require companies to report the volumes or names of chemicals being injected during hydraulic fracturing. Thus, neither the government nor the public can evaluate the risks posed by injecting these fluids underground.

groundwater and drinking water contamination •
soil and surface water contamination •
aromatic chemicals released from wastes
Drinking water protected? THINK AGAIN

Be sure and read the important study "Drilling Down" by Amy Mall of the NRDC.

This excellent report details the effects of gas drilling in Western Communities.

“ Many people who live near oil and gas operations experience the kinds of symptoms known tobe linked to the toxic substances found in oil and gas or the chemical additives used to producethem,” Mall says.

The report,“Drilling Down: Protecting Western Communities from the Health and Environmental Effectsof Oil and Gas Production,” provides a comprehensive assessment of these loopholes that allow oil and gas companies to continue polluting despite the risks.

“Affordable pollution solutions are already available. It’s past time for Congress to close the loopholes andeliminate the privilege to pollute,” says Mall.

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Survivors had no warning of natural gas leaks by BRETT SHIPP :: WFAA :: June 24, 2010 : NEWS 8 INVESTIGATES For the past three years, News 8 has reported on five cases of underground couplings that leaked natural gas into homes, causing explosions, deaths and injuries. Read a recent article by Greg Hughes on "Why we need a Moratorium..."		Educate Yourself... To give you a better understanding of exactly why the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's (TCEQ) entire structure and procedural policies need to be reevaluated and changed, click on the link below and read an excellent investigative report that reveals the glaring "holes in the cheese" and why citizens have a high level of distrust of the TCEQ and their ability to protect our health and safety! The Texas Gas Industry's Potemkin Village Tour Are industry and TCEQ undermining good science? September 22, 2010 by: Forrest Wilder In May, we broke the story that TCEQ officials had suppressed information on elevated benzene levels from natural gas drilling activity in Fort Worth. After the story was picked up by other media, TCEQ promised to get its act together. But documents obtained by the Observer show that the oil and gas industry is sabotaging even minor TCEQ efforts to study the problem… and the agency seems to be doing little to overcome the resistance. Pollution from oil and gas activity has been a hot topic in Texas, especially after Al Armendariz – now the regional EPA administrator – estimated last year that the “oil and gas sector likely has greater emissions than motor vehicles” in the five-county Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. TCEQ also conducted helicopter fly-overs of industrial sites along the Gulf Coast and in the Metroplex that detected large plumes of hydrocarbons. Later, agency analysts took a closer look at 20 of the sites and found that 14 of them were polluting above their permitted limits. READ MORE... Jun. 08, 2010 :: Star Telegram In 2009, Tarrant County had an 8-hour average ozone reading of 86 ppb at two locations, one in far north Fort Worth near Keller and another at Eagle Mountain Lake. Both were the highest readings in the state and well above the 2008 revised standard of 75 ppb and much higher than the proposed rule changes. What you need to know about the theft of your mineral estate Mineral Interest Pooling Act (MIPA) Forced Pooling: In recent months, the gas drilling industry has increased their use of both of these procedures, and what you don't know CAN hurt you! NCTCA has adopted the position that "Forced Pooling" is a de facto eminent domain "taking" of your mineral estate for private gain, and a Rule 37 Waiver is in fact legally sanctioned THEFT of your mineral estate. The drilling companies take your minerals (if approved by the Railroad Commission) whether or not you want to sell, and you are told what you will take $$$ for them. The up-side.....they will at least pay you. Rule 37 Exception: They will take your minerals (if approved by the Railroad Commission) and will NOT pay for them at any time. This is becoming the most popular method, among producers of natural gas, of drilling mineral interests that are unwilling to lease. The up-side....there is none! Whether you have signed a mineral lease or not, your personal property and mineral rights can be overridden........ and it's already happening! Drinking water protected? THINK AGAIN HYDRAULIC FRACTURING Typically, hydraulic fracturing involves high-pressure injection of fluids and sand to fracture rock formations, prop the fractures open with sand, to enable more oil or gas to flow to the well. After fracturing, some of the fluids remain stranded underground. These fluids may include hazardous chemicals such as biocides, diesel fuel, acids, metals, ethylene glycol, corrosion inhibitors, and other chemicals. Hydraulic fracturing often occurs just after a well has been drilled, although many wells are re-fractured one or more times after a well goes into production. REGULATIONS FALL SHORT • Americans get half of their fresh drinking water from underground sources. In 2005, the oil and gas industry was granted an exemption from the federal Safe Drinking Water Act,making oil and gas the only industry allowed to inject toxic fluids directly into good quality groundwater without oversight by the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency. • At the state level, most oil and gas agencies do not require companies to report the volumes or names of chemicals being injected during hydraulic fracturing. Thus, neither the government nor the public can evaluate the risks posed by injecting these fluids underground. groundwater and drinking water contamination • soil and surface water contamination • aromatic chemicals released from wastes Drinking water protected? THINK AGAIN Be sure and read the important study "Drilling Down" by Amy Mall of the NRDC. This excellent report details the effects of gas drilling in Western Communities. “ Many people who live near oil and gas operations experience the kinds of symptoms known tobe linked to the toxic substances found in oil and gas or the chemical additives used to producethem,” Mall says. The report,“Drilling Down: Protecting Western Communities from the Health and Environmental Effectsof Oil and Gas Production,” provides a comprehensive assessment of these loopholes that allow oil and gas companies to continue polluting despite the risks. “Affordable pollution solutions are already available. It’s past time for Congress to close the loopholes andeliminate the privilege to pollute,” says Mall.