The town of Colleyville tabled Titan's request for a permit to drill. The site would put Southlake residents closer than 1000' to the pad site. The property in question sits on the border of the two Towns.
Titan plans to drill 13 wells from this pad site. Chris Hammack from Titan stated the drilling operation could last for five to seven years.
When asked if the site noise could be reduced during the daytime, Mr. Hammack stated that one drilling starts, it will run 24 hours a day.
Even with a 28 foot wall to drown out some of the noise, it is still projected to put out 85 decibels!
That seems to be the number when hearing loss can occur with prolonged exposure. With drilling going on 24 hours a day from a pad site with 13 wells. That would be prolonged.
Below is a paragraph from a Military Audiology Association prevention campaign presentation for 5th graders.
http://militaryaudiology.org/site/bang/3/
Tell the children that 85 decibels is also very special because it is this level that starts hurting hearing.
And another site, Noisy Planet, on hearing loss.
http://www.noisyplanet.nidcd.nih.gov/press/nihlfacts
Researchers who study hearing loss have found that a person who is exposed to noise levels at 85 decibels or higher for a prolonged period of time is at risk for hearing loss.
Below is a paragraph from an article in the Southlake Journal. Titan is asking for more flexibility on two very important issues. Air quality and Noise!!!!! Let's hope they don't try this one here in Flower Mound.
Is this is what we have to look forward to on the Hilliard site.
Only 1000' from Shadow Ridge Middle School.
How will the noise affect the students trying to concentrate and learn?
What about when they go outside for sports and breath in the air while drilling and fracking is going on? Think Dish, Texas!!!http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/localnews/news8/stories/wfaa091012_mo_dishcompressions.20f1c4733.html
Read the Southlake Article here
http://www.southlakejournal.com/news/story/6044.html
Titan Operating, LLC, which has filed an application for the drilling permit, asked the Colleyville Planning and Zoning Commission for "more flexibility" in air quality testing and noise abatement than the city’s ordinance provides.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Lawmakers ask EPA to study hydraulic fracturing
Currently the Oil and Gas Industry is exempt from the following:
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
Safe Drinking Water Act.
Clean Air Act.
National Environmental Policy Act
Toxic Release Inventory under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
Congress has asked the EPA to take another look at hydraulic fracturing. In 2004 the EPA gave their approval for hydraulic fracturing after they conducted a highly criticized study. This study was used to justify the "Hallibuton Loophole" back in 2005.
http://www.propublica.org/feature/congress-tells-epa-to-study-hydraulic-fracturing-hinchey-1110
The following paragraph should not come as a surprise.
The EPA gave hydraulic fracturing its stamp of approval in a 2004 report [1], but that study has been widely criticized as politically-motivated and scientifically unsound. After the report was released, veteran EPA scientist Weston Wilson wrote a letter [2] to Colorado representatives saying that "based on available science and literature, EPA’s conclusions are unsupportable." He also wrote that five out seven members of a panel that reviewed the findings had conflicts of interest and "may benefit from EPA’s decision not to conduct further investigation or impose regulatory conditions."
The report below goes into detail about the exemptions only the gas and oil industry are allowed.
http://www.earthworksaction.org/pubs/PetroleumExemptions1c.pdf
This is good news for many of us living in the Barnett Shale. Below are a few recent articles about gas drilling and water contamination. Help may be on the way!!!
http://stopthedrilling.blogspot.com/2009/11/gas-drilling-produced-waste-water.html
http://stopthedrilling.blogspot.com/2009/11/pennsylvania-landowner-says-he-has.html
http://stopthedrilling.blogspot.com/2009/11/natural-gas-drilling-toxic-threat-to.html
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
Safe Drinking Water Act.
Clean Air Act.
National Environmental Policy Act
Toxic Release Inventory under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
Congress has asked the EPA to take another look at hydraulic fracturing. In 2004 the EPA gave their approval for hydraulic fracturing after they conducted a highly criticized study. This study was used to justify the "Hallibuton Loophole" back in 2005.
http://www.propublica.org/feature/congress-tells-epa-to-study-hydraulic-fracturing-hinchey-1110
The following paragraph should not come as a surprise.
The EPA gave hydraulic fracturing its stamp of approval in a 2004 report [1], but that study has been widely criticized as politically-motivated and scientifically unsound. After the report was released, veteran EPA scientist Weston Wilson wrote a letter [2] to Colorado representatives saying that "based on available science and literature, EPA’s conclusions are unsupportable." He also wrote that five out seven members of a panel that reviewed the findings had conflicts of interest and "may benefit from EPA’s decision not to conduct further investigation or impose regulatory conditions."
The report below goes into detail about the exemptions only the gas and oil industry are allowed.
http://www.earthworksaction.org/pubs/PetroleumExemptions1c.pdf
This is good news for many of us living in the Barnett Shale. Below are a few recent articles about gas drilling and water contamination. Help may be on the way!!!
http://stopthedrilling.blogspot.com/2009/11/gas-drilling-produced-waste-water.html
http://stopthedrilling.blogspot.com/2009/11/pennsylvania-landowner-says-he-has.html
http://stopthedrilling.blogspot.com/2009/11/natural-gas-drilling-toxic-threat-to.html
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Titan has applied for a permit from the Town of Flower Mound
Titan turned in an application to drill on the Hilliard Airfield on Friday. The town has a ten day review period. Brandon Bammel did not know how many variances will be needed at this time but did say he believed that there may be some needed for environmentally sensitive areas.
When we get more information, we will share it.
When we get more information, we will share it.
Monday, November 9, 2009
The Gathering Line
Gathering Line - a special pipeline that transports gas from the field to the main pipeline.
The Gathering Line is a round-up of oil & gas drilling news brought to you by National Alliance for Drilling Reform (NA4DR), a broad alliance of grassroots activists from states across the nation that are affected with drilling development.
Splashdown wants to encourage everyone to get behind the 2 Action Alerts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and all inflowing waterways. 1. You can send an easy click message to Congress to urge them to join in sponsoring this critical Clean Water legislation. 2. Beginning Nov. 9th, public input (also easy click to comment) is being sought on strategic plans for President Obama's Executive Order for cleaning up the Bay. So please, hop to it!
TXsharon continues to report from a backyard in the Barnett Shale. Despite all the local and national press on drilling related toxins, carcinogens and neurotoxins in our air, Aruba Petroleum Refuses a Simple Step to Improve Barnett Shale Air and thereby recklessly and willfully endangers public health and safety. Read it on Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS.
The New Energy Army Pickens Proposes to force his plan upon the nation Read it at Cheap Tricks and Costly Truths.
Peacegirl writes about the situation in Clearville, PA, where compressor stations are causing serious environmental problems. Read Compressor Stations Wreak Havoc in PA. Watch two videos, and see for yourself what it looks like to have tiny oily spots on every surface, every plant, farm equipment, a pond- everywhere. It is unbelievable! See the cemetery adjacent to a Clearville compressor station where local residents hope someday to "rest in peace." They are wondering if that day will come sooner rather than later because of the serious health threats they now fear from the gas industry. Who will help the residents of Clearville? Is the PA DEP doing its job? Visit Gas Wells Are Not Our Friends. Reader comments are always welcome.
Sue Heavenrich reports on a recently released report about drilling accidents in NY 270 Drilling Accidents in NY So Far Read about that and and more at http://marcelluseffect.blogspot.com/
Flower Mound Citizens Against Urban Drilling urges everyone to read the Environment Texas study to learn how excessive waste of fresh water and toxic chemicals gas drillers use in the extraction of the gas are threatening our drinking water in the Barnett Shale area.
The Gathering Line is a round-up of oil & gas drilling news brought to you by National Alliance for Drilling Reform (NA4DR), a broad alliance of grassroots activists from states across the nation that are affected with drilling development.
Splashdown wants to encourage everyone to get behind the 2 Action Alerts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and all inflowing waterways. 1. You can send an easy click message to Congress to urge them to join in sponsoring this critical Clean Water legislation. 2. Beginning Nov. 9th, public input (also easy click to comment) is being sought on strategic plans for President Obama's Executive Order for cleaning up the Bay. So please, hop to it!
TXsharon continues to report from a backyard in the Barnett Shale. Despite all the local and national press on drilling related toxins, carcinogens and neurotoxins in our air, Aruba Petroleum Refuses a Simple Step to Improve Barnett Shale Air and thereby recklessly and willfully endangers public health and safety. Read it on Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS.
The New Energy Army Pickens Proposes to force his plan upon the nation Read it at Cheap Tricks and Costly Truths.
Peacegirl writes about the situation in Clearville, PA, where compressor stations are causing serious environmental problems. Read Compressor Stations Wreak Havoc in PA. Watch two videos, and see for yourself what it looks like to have tiny oily spots on every surface, every plant, farm equipment, a pond- everywhere. It is unbelievable! See the cemetery adjacent to a Clearville compressor station where local residents hope someday to "rest in peace." They are wondering if that day will come sooner rather than later because of the serious health threats they now fear from the gas industry. Who will help the residents of Clearville? Is the PA DEP doing its job? Visit Gas Wells Are Not Our Friends. Reader comments are always welcome.
Sue Heavenrich reports on a recently released report about drilling accidents in NY 270 Drilling Accidents in NY So Far Read about that and and more at http://marcelluseffect.blogspot.com/
Flower Mound Citizens Against Urban Drilling urges everyone to read the Environment Texas study to learn how excessive waste of fresh water and toxic chemicals gas drillers use in the extraction of the gas are threatening our drinking water in the Barnett Shale area.
Gas Drilling Produced Waste Water Radioactive! Update
After I originally posted this article about New York, I remembered last year, Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe from the Denton Record Chronicle, did an article on NORM. Naturally occurring radioactive material. The link to her article is at the bottom.
Now Abrahm Lustgarten did an article in ProPublica talks about this dangerous aspect of gas drilling. The produced water is radioactive!!!
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation studied 13 samples of waste water that was brought up to the surface from drilling. The level of radium 226, this level is 267 times the limit for safe discharge into the environment and thousands of times higher than the limit safe for humans to drink. Below are a few paragraphs in red from the article.
As New York gears up for a massive expansion of gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale, state officials have made a potentially troubling discovery about the wastewater created by the process: It's radioactive. And they have yet to say how they'll deal with it.
The information comes from New York's Department of Environmental Conservation, which analyzed 13 samples of wastewater brought thousands of feet to the surface from drilling and found that they contain levels of radium-226, a derivative of uranium, as high as 267 times the limit safe for discharge into the environment and thousands of times the limit safe for people to drink.
The industry may be putting their own employees at risk of future health concerns
Measuring human exposure -- which is quantified in doses of millirems per year -- from radiation is notoriously difficult, in part because it depends on variables like whether objects interfere with radiation, or how sustained exposure is over long periods of time.
Gas industry workers, for example, would almost certainly face an increased risk of cancer if they worked in a confined space where radon gas, a leading cause of lung cancer and a derivative of radium, can collect to dangerous levels. They would also be at risk if they somehow swallowed or breathed fumes from the radioactive wastewater, or handled the concentrated materials regularly for 20 years.
Here is the real problem. The gas and oil industry is exempt from the federal laws for handling toxic waste in addition to the many other exemptions only they receive!!
Federal laws don't directly address naturally occurring radioactivity, and the oil and gas industry is exempt from federal laws dictating handling of toxic waste, leaving the burden on New York state. New York has laws governing radioactive materials, but the state's drilling plans don't specify when they would apply.
http://www.propublica.org/feature/is-the-marcellus-shale-too-hot-to-handle-1109
The Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe from the Denton Record Chronicle article about NORM last year.
http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/specialprojects/drilling/stories/DRC_NORM1_11-11.1fb48b711.html
This paragraph stuck out.
One factor is that organic-rich shale such as the Barnett Shale has higher levels of uranium. Another factor is the high level of salt in the wastewater produced along with the gas. As a gas well is producing, the variable pressure also helps free NORM from the shale, bond with other elements, such as barite and calcium carbonate, and travel to the surface along with the gas.
Now Abrahm Lustgarten did an article in ProPublica talks about this dangerous aspect of gas drilling. The produced water is radioactive!!!
The New York Department of Environmental Conservation studied 13 samples of waste water that was brought up to the surface from drilling. The level of radium 226, this level is 267 times the limit for safe discharge into the environment and thousands of times higher than the limit safe for humans to drink. Below are a few paragraphs in red from the article.
As New York gears up for a massive expansion of gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale, state officials have made a potentially troubling discovery about the wastewater created by the process: It's radioactive. And they have yet to say how they'll deal with it.
The information comes from New York's Department of Environmental Conservation, which analyzed 13 samples of wastewater brought thousands of feet to the surface from drilling and found that they contain levels of radium-226, a derivative of uranium, as high as 267 times the limit safe for discharge into the environment and thousands of times the limit safe for people to drink.
The industry may be putting their own employees at risk of future health concerns
Measuring human exposure -- which is quantified in doses of millirems per year -- from radiation is notoriously difficult, in part because it depends on variables like whether objects interfere with radiation, or how sustained exposure is over long periods of time.
Gas industry workers, for example, would almost certainly face an increased risk of cancer if they worked in a confined space where radon gas, a leading cause of lung cancer and a derivative of radium, can collect to dangerous levels. They would also be at risk if they somehow swallowed or breathed fumes from the radioactive wastewater, or handled the concentrated materials regularly for 20 years.
Here is the real problem. The gas and oil industry is exempt from the federal laws for handling toxic waste in addition to the many other exemptions only they receive!!
Federal laws don't directly address naturally occurring radioactivity, and the oil and gas industry is exempt from federal laws dictating handling of toxic waste, leaving the burden on New York state. New York has laws governing radioactive materials, but the state's drilling plans don't specify when they would apply.
http://www.propublica.org/feature/is-the-marcellus-shale-too-hot-to-handle-1109
The Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe from the Denton Record Chronicle article about NORM last year.
http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/specialprojects/drilling/stories/DRC_NORM1_11-11.1fb48b711.html
This paragraph stuck out.
One factor is that organic-rich shale such as the Barnett Shale has higher levels of uranium. Another factor is the high level of salt in the wastewater produced along with the gas. As a gas well is producing, the variable pressure also helps free NORM from the shale, bond with other elements, such as barite and calcium carbonate, and travel to the surface along with the gas.
Pennsylvania Landowner says he has proof drilling contaminated his water
George Zimmerman owns 480 acres in Washington County, Pennsylvania. Recently water tests performed on his land, including one 1500 feet from his home, found seven potentially deadly chemicals above levels set by the EPA.
Zimmerman had baseline tests done a year before the drilling began. At that time, his water was "perfect". June of this year water tests found arsenic at 2,600 times acceptable levels, benzene at 44 times above limits and naphthalene five times the federal standard.
Mr. Zimmerman has filed suit against Atlas Energy.
Baseline tests on Zimmermann's water a year before drilling began were "perfect,'' he said. In June, water tests found arsenic at 2,600 times acceptable levels, benzene at 44 times above limits and naphthalene five times the federal standard.
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2009/11/09/105181.htm
Washington County is the same area where a waste water pipeline leak contaminated a lake in June of this year. That accident killed fish and aquatic insect life.
http://post-gazette.com/pg/09155/975107-100.stm
Remember, the gas companies do not have do tell you exactly what is in the fracking fluid "hallibuton loophole". They can be as vague as they want. We have had water contamination accidents right here in Texas.
Recently at a public hearing in Flower Mound, Williams was asked for a sample of their fracking fluid so the town could have it tested to find out what specific chemicals were in there. They refused. But they want the residents to allow them to run waste water pipelines under the town to pipe fracking produced water to a central collection facility.
We, the citizens of Texas, must demand better regulations and accountability! We need to put more pressure on our elected officials on the local, state, and federal level.
Zimmerman had baseline tests done a year before the drilling began. At that time, his water was "perfect". June of this year water tests found arsenic at 2,600 times acceptable levels, benzene at 44 times above limits and naphthalene five times the federal standard.
Mr. Zimmerman has filed suit against Atlas Energy.
Baseline tests on Zimmermann's water a year before drilling began were "perfect,'' he said. In June, water tests found arsenic at 2,600 times acceptable levels, benzene at 44 times above limits and naphthalene five times the federal standard.
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/east/2009/11/09/105181.htm
Washington County is the same area where a waste water pipeline leak contaminated a lake in June of this year. That accident killed fish and aquatic insect life.
http://post-gazette.com/pg/09155/975107-100.stm
Remember, the gas companies do not have do tell you exactly what is in the fracking fluid "hallibuton loophole". They can be as vague as they want. We have had water contamination accidents right here in Texas.
Recently at a public hearing in Flower Mound, Williams was asked for a sample of their fracking fluid so the town could have it tested to find out what specific chemicals were in there. They refused. But they want the residents to allow them to run waste water pipelines under the town to pipe fracking produced water to a central collection facility.
We, the citizens of Texas, must demand better regulations and accountability! We need to put more pressure on our elected officials on the local, state, and federal level.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Part of Carlsbad, New Mexico subject to giant sinkhole because of drilling activity
Imagine driving down the road and seeing a bright yellow warning sign that states "US 285 south subject to sinkhole 1,000 feet ahead". Scary huh? This is happening right now in New Mexico.
Below are a few paragraphs from the msnbc article.
The cavern was formed over three decades as oil field service companies pumped fresh water into a salt layer more than 400 feet below the surface and extracted several million barrels of brine to help with drilling.
Over the past few decades, communities in Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Canada and Europe learned of similar underground danger only after cracks appeared and the ground began to sink.
"It would be a mess. It would be like a bomb going off in the middle of town," said Jim Griswold, a hydrologist with the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division.
Of course there is always the denial by those who profit from the industry.
I&W Trucking, the oil field service company that owns the site where the cavern is located, contends the state is overreacting because of the previous collapses on state land and criticized the Oil Conservation Division for not doing more tests to establish the size of the brine cavern before forcing it to plug the well.
Local and State officials are asking for federal funds to figure out a way to stabilize the cavern.
They are worried it might not happen in time. Carlsbad is home to around 26,000 residents and great deal of tourists. The area where the danger exists could result in $100 million in crop damage.
State officials said parts of the ground above the well are already heaving while other parts are sinking.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33738802/ns/us_news-environment/
Below are a few paragraphs from the msnbc article.
The cavern was formed over three decades as oil field service companies pumped fresh water into a salt layer more than 400 feet below the surface and extracted several million barrels of brine to help with drilling.
Over the past few decades, communities in Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Canada and Europe learned of similar underground danger only after cracks appeared and the ground began to sink.
"It would be a mess. It would be like a bomb going off in the middle of town," said Jim Griswold, a hydrologist with the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division.
Of course there is always the denial by those who profit from the industry.
I&W Trucking, the oil field service company that owns the site where the cavern is located, contends the state is overreacting because of the previous collapses on state land and criticized the Oil Conservation Division for not doing more tests to establish the size of the brine cavern before forcing it to plug the well.
Local and State officials are asking for federal funds to figure out a way to stabilize the cavern.
They are worried it might not happen in time. Carlsbad is home to around 26,000 residents and great deal of tourists. The area where the danger exists could result in $100 million in crop damage.
State officials said parts of the ground above the well are already heaving while other parts are sinking.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33738802/ns/us_news-environment/
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