Last Friday a friend and I took a little road trip out to Decatur. We stopped by the Ruggiero's place. Tim and Christine so graciously spent time with us and shared their story. I can tell you that pictures and videos do not show just how horrible this situation is. When we arrived, Aruba Petroleum was finally cleaning up after a spill back in January. But this was the morning after another spill! No matter where you stand on their property, you see gas drilling related activity.
Chris Hawes of News 8, reported last night that concerning levels of Benzene have been found on their property. Who knows what other chemicals are lurking around.
When is this going to stop?
Texas will be entering their legislative session in January of 2011.
Now is the time to make sure you are electing the right officials that will fight for our residents like the Ruggiero's, fight for our towns and fight for our state. Click here for Flower Mound candidate information.
Now is the time to contact those elected officials already in place and tell them you demand drilling reform.
For those of us in Flower Mound, now is the time to sign the Flower Mound Cares Petition.
Now is the time to support organizations like the Texas Oil and Gas Accountability Project. They have had success in states like New Mexico and Colorado by lobbying for better regulations on the state level.
The more voices, the louder the message.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
14 comments:
Who cares about 9 year old girls, when you can make a lot of MONEY, MONEY, MONEY! The day of reckoning is near, the place is Flower Mound, the time is now. The line is the sand is Flower Mound Road.
So true anon 10:27. Money clouds judgement. We own our minerals but with all that has come out since being approached to lease them we have changed our minds and decided not to sign.
There is not enough money in this world to put our family and neighbors health and safety at risk.
Our minerals will stay where they are thousands of feet below us.
I feel the Ruggerio Family, however, this WILL NOT happen in Flower Mound. Decatur is not a home rule city, and because of that they have to live with state standards. Basically, they got screwed. Again DECATUR IS NOT FLOWER MOUND!! Same thing is true for Dish, you are comparing apples to oranges.
Hmmm, home rule hasn't saved us from eminent domain, nor bad air. You keep saying "Flower Mound is different." I couldn't agree more, that's why were going to stop rolling over, the buck stops here. Not really sure how you could KNOW nothing like this would happen here, are you the president for ALL of the gas companies operating in the area, what gives you the ability to speak with that authority. Do you have some strange G-d like ability you are not sharing? The only difference between there and here is here it won't be 200 feet away it will be 500, as if benzene cares about that last 300 feet, nice try.
Hey 7:37, I guess you think Flower Mound is different from Arlington and DFW airport area as well. Oh, lets not forget all the problems in Ft. Worth. Do you think Flower Mound has "special air" that attacks ethylbenzene, xylene, hexane, and methylpentanes. All of these chemicals were found in the bloodstream of an Arlington resident. In addition, there is an Arlington college student who also has "chemicals associated with drilling" found in their bloodstream. Your Funny! Not believable, but funny!
Maybe Flower Mound is like the Death Star and has an invisible force field protecting us. Anon 7:37 is Darth Vader.
Don't forget, the Ruggiero's have to pay the property taxes on all that property that was taken over by the gas company. The company makes the money from the land, but Ruggiero's pay property taxes on it. That land is useless to the Ruggieros. I suppose to 7:37 pm, that is okay too!
I don't think "7:37" was saying that at all. It is wrong what is happening to that family, but I think the point is that FM is not Arlington, Dectaur, Dish or Ft. Worth and to compare us to them is comparing apples to oranges. Our ordinance is very different than the other cities, and it has been said by many that our ordinance is the strongest in the state. So the person was right in saying that what is happening to that poor family, won't happen here. I agree, that family got screwed. Thank goodness we live in Flower Mound. Now ATTACK...since you are all so fond of that!
I don't think "7:37" was saying that at all. It is wrong what is happening to that family, but I think the point is that FM is not Arlington, Dectaur, Dish or Ft. Worth and to compare us to them is comparing apples to oranges. Our ordinance is very different than the other cities, and it has been said by many that our ordinance is the strongest in the state. So the person was right in saying that what is happening to that poor family, won't happen here. I agree, that family got screwed. Thank goodness we live in Flower Mound. Now ATTACK...since you are all so fond of that!
Well, I won't attack, but I will have an opinion that is different than yours. Our wonderful ordinance is subjected to constant attack where a "variance" which was supposed to be an exception to the rule, is now THE rule. If an exception is NOT given, then the gas company sues. So then, what is the point of having such a great strong ordinance if we cannot enforce the rule of law in our own town? Once again, the definition of "balancing the rights of mineral owners and surface owners" is relegated to putting up a noise curtain. I'm sorry a noise curtain is not what I call balance.
One other point, there is NO law on the city, state, or federal books which would keep the very thing that happened to the Ruggerio's from happening here. Do I think it is likely, no I do not, but legally it could happen. If you are aware of a law which would prevent that from happening which the Gas companies have not sued and won against, I would love to read it. As far as the "attack" comment, I have been cussed at, yelled at, screamed at, several times by "mineral owners" and have never once raised my voice at them.
What is happening in Decatur could absolutely happen here in Flower Mound. Since most of the residents do not own their minerals, it could happen. Here is a little scenerio. I own 10 acres of land and I own the minerals. I decide to sell my land but keep the minerals. I tell the owner of the land that they will not own the minerals and I have disclosed that. Mr. Gas company comes and says "we want to drill and I lease my minerals. Mr. Surface rights is now screwed! See it can happen here. The few that own their minerals can keep them forever and those that buy their property will forever be up a creek without a paddle.
There is a person who lives in my neighborhood who use to live in an area of Flower Mound where mineral leases have now been secured. The person that lives in my neighborhood leased the minerals to a gas co., even though they did not reside at that property, they owned it. (They lived in my neighborhood.) Then they sold the property, which they already signed over the minerals to a gas co. Hope the person who purchased the property understands the possible impact of this. Do not know particulars.
Exactly, and this will be a poison pill for any real estate transaction in the future. No one will want to buy property that doesn't have property rights, when no one wants to buy property in a certain area, the values goes down, then everyone loses. Except the gas companies of course, they got theirs and got outta dodge.
Post a Comment