Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Methane Mapping readings in the Barnett Shale through the roof!

Tonight in Dish, TX, results from testing done using methane mapping equipment was revealed.

Picarro Inc. has developed equipment that can take precise measurement of greenhouse gases and carbon emissions. Their equipment is used by the World Meteorological Organization. This testing equipment can pin point the exact location and source of the fugitive emissions by using google maps. It measures methane and is not confused with other chemicals.


The testing was conducted by Chris Rella, Ph.D. Director of R&D for Picarro, Wilma Subra of OGAP and Earthworks, and Alisa Rich of Wolf Eagle Environmental.

The readings in Flower Mound were taken last night between 8:00 pm and 10:00 pm. The wind was 8 to 10 miles per hour from the North West. The highest reading was near the Williams site where the compression station and tanks are located. The reading was 40 ppm. Alisa Rich with Wolf Eagle said it stayed at the level for quite some time and never dipped below 20 ppm. The neighborhood where the children who were diagnosed with Leukemia live registered 40 ppm.

Summa canister samples were taken and sent to an independent lab for testing. Results should be available in 7-10 days. Mr. Picarro said that usually there are other chemicals found where there is methane.

As far away as 5 miles, the crew had readings over 5 ppm.

Testing was repeated this evening and the same results as last night were registered.

Click here to see pictures and read the report from txsharon.]
Click here to read Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe's article on the study

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is shocking. I heard a rumor that they found elevated levels of Carbon Dilsulfide by the firestation near Shiloh!! And now this high level of Methane. We have a huge problem here in Flower Mound

Anonymous said...

So certain members of our town council didn't think a moratorium was needed back in December. Now we have been breathing in this crap for another 3 months. They should be held accountable for this. Lawsuit anyone?

Anonymous said...

Here is my email to the mayor:
Mayor Smith,
Make sure you read about where they were testing in Flower Mound. Mayor - if you think you don't need the 3000 votes of those of us who signed the petition then you are a fool. Your statements during the last part of the town council this Monday were shameful. You think it does residents a disservice to listen to the petition signers. Well, the now over 3000 people who signed the petition are residents. I guess you feel you can win an election without those 3000 voters - I think not. Don't you think the poison such as the poison mentioned in this article is doing us a disservice? Once again, shame on you for allowing this in the town. This area that Mr. Rella studied has drills, compressors . . . Now you want to add to it with allowing waste there as well! This was done while you were mayor. Your are responsible. Don't be proud of what you "accomplished" as mayor. Be warned - you have made lots of residents mad and we won't forget. You lost a child - you think you would want to save others the terrible grief that causes. The fact that this stuff causes many life threatening (and yes fetal) problems doesn't seem to bother you. I live near this mess - I am fearful for my kids. I blame you. How you can live with yourself knowing what you allowed as mayor is beyond me.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Wallace, is this enough of a "shread" of evidence for you? 40ppm where there are kids getting cancer. Doesn't it AT LEAST warrant putting on the brakes for just a little while? I think a lawsuit is in order, we already know 3 of the members don't want to defend against lawsuits, oh wait, that's only when it is an outside interest wanted to make money, when it comes to the health of the community, who gives a flying f***!

Anonymous said...

Sign the petition. So we can shove down Mayor Smiths throat!!! Go here for information.
http://mysite.verizon.net/fmcares/index

Anonymous said...

I like the petition. I just feel we need to do more. But what? I am so mad. I don't even want to let my kids outside. I am serious. My daughter has softball practice tonight - I don't know if we can continue the season - it is too dangerous.

We need to fight.What else can we do?

Anonymous said...

We need to demand a moratorium. Maybe a class action suit against those council members that didn't want a moratorium back in December. They have endangered our public health.

Anonymous said...

Sound good to me. Maybe the lawyer from the petition group would help.

Anonymous said...

Vote NFL to make a difference.
Northern, Filidoro, and Lyda. They won't back down because of threats of law suits.

Anonymous said...

We need a moratorium now!!!! We can't afford to wait for it to be on the ballot.
Go to Town Council and demand it.

Anonymous said...

Amen, Legislate them into oblivion!

Anonymous said...

Agreed we need a moratorium now - but how to get in now is the question. Also, in reality what we really need is to shut down everything, especially in the area of scenic and 11 71. But that won't happen. I feel so helpless.

Anonymous said...

Everyone does realize that a moratorium would only stop new drilling, the council can not stop drilling that is already taking place. Furthermore, I am just as worried about all this as the rest of you, but I have found that I get a better response from council when I am not threatening them. I tried taking a hard line and it got me nowhere fast. Perhaps, and don't shot the messengar here, if we stop looking at this as an us vs. them kinda thing we would get better results. I pledge to try and work with them instead of from this day forward, who's with me? This has to be middle ground here so everyone wins, there just has to be.

Anonymous said...

Not to burst your bubble but they will never work with us. We tried in the beginning to work with them. Asking them to think about what was happening. Months and Months ago. We need to get rid of those that are not putting families and health first. Period. May 8th hurry up!!!!

Anonymous said...

Anon 3:41pm

I think that attitude is what the previous poster was talking about. No, they did not agree with stopping the zoning of the ccf or the moratorium, but that doesn't mean they are not willing to work with us and find middle ground. My question to you would be, have you tried (for that fact has anybody tried) to work with them since then. The Town is divided and something has to give or everybody on both sides will lose, period.

Anon 3:17, i'm with ya! I am sick of the extremes on both sides of this issue and am sick of all the division.

Mary said...

As I read all the comments I fully understand the frustration that many residents are feeling right now. I can only wish that the town council will work with the residents. But from what I have witnessed since Jan 21st, I am not sure that they ever will. I keep going back to watch the video from the Monday night council meeting, a large majority of the residents (over 3000) asked for the same consideration as the developer who wants to do a land swap so he can drill six wells on the property that is now the location of our soccer fields. The Mayor and some of the council members pretended that they did not know what the petition is about when we all know it was clearly stated in a previous meeting. In addition to that, seemed very insulting to those residents.

I pray that the Mayor and the council members come to their senses and try to work with the residents but I will not hold my breath and I think that we should continue with the petition and look forward to the election in May to get those on the council that will be willing to work with all of us to clean up our town.

Anonymous said...

Well, Tell me what on earth in the middle ground? There is none. When dealing with poisons being emitted so close to my house there is no middle ground. I think the petition is middle ground but we all heard the mayors response to that. Sorry but there is no middle ground.

Anonymous said...

We have asked industry to put vapor recovery devices on their equipement, the answer is always the same, it's too expensive. The middle ground for them is as long as we get ALL of the wells, and ALL of the pipelines, and ALL of the other facilities we want, you can complain all you want, that is their middle ground. This may also be referred to as "balancing the rights of minerals and surface rights owners". Really, what right does a surface owner have, NONE! Ask Tim Ruggerio in Wise county how many rights a surface owner has.

Anonymous said...

I know everyone likes Northern, Filidoro and Lyda but have they made any statement of support for the petition and the moratorium ordinance? I know Filidoro asked for a special meeting but I want a specific statement. I'd also like a pledge to adopt the moratorium ordinance as written at their first council meeting. Remember Mike Wallace? We thought he might do the right thing too. I like NFL but I want a commitment.

Anonymous said...

Well, My question is - is Northern running. She hasn't filed this with the town yet. Time is running out. She needs to file whatever the packet is to the town by a certain date to get on the ballot. As of yet, I have seen no statement from her that she is running. If she is, she better get started and let people know.