Attention Flower Mound residents: Do you trust Kleinfelder to test your air?

Do you trust Kleinfelder to test your air? You may not after reading this.

VANCOUVER, Jan. 16 /CNW/ - Precision Assessment Technology Corporation("PATC" or the "Company") announced today that the acquisition of 16 rigs and10 crews from Spectrum Drilling, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kleinfelder, is now completed.

Jim Kleinfelder founded Spectrum Drilling. Click here to read bio.

Hmm sure looks like a huge conflict of interest!!

That explains the poor job of air quality testing they did earlier this year.

Kleinfleder is still under contract with the Town of Flower Mound to do more testing. It may be time to terminate their contract.

Click here to read article.

On Kleinfelder's website, it list the Energy Industry at the top of the list of clients. On the Energy page it lists testimonials and Project Samples. Four of the five listed are from the Oil & Gas Industry.
Click here.

Ever Wonder Why Oil & Gas Receives Broad EPA Expemtions?

After reading this article from the Denver Post, it is pretty clear why Oil & Gas needs so many exemptions from EPA Federal Statutes. Accidents happen and they happen frequently. Although the industry doesn't think so.

This article highlights what is happening in the State of Colorado. But the same accidents are happening all over the US where the Oil & Gas Industry is doing business.

This quote form David Neslin, Director of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission said it all.
"I think we would all agree it's more expensive to clean up a problem after it occurs than to avoid the problem in the first instance," Neslin said.

Prevention is the best practice. So why does it seem the industry is so resistant to recycle?
The industry will say it is because of cost and it cuts into their profits.
It is because they are not made to do it.

Why does the industry not have to disclose the chemicals in their fracking fluid?
They say it is proprietary info.
It is because the chemicals are a danger to public health and our environment. The industry must be forced to come up with a better way to extract natural gas.

We will keep seeing statistics like these reported in this graph unless the Oil & Gas Industry has tighter regulations and all EPA exemptions are lifted. States need to put better regulations into place to protect their residents and environment.

January 2011, the Texas State Legislative Session will begin, it is time to let our elected officials know we want better regulations and accountability here in Texas.

Click here for more information and to find your elected officials.

Click here to sign up for legislative alerts from the TXOGAP

Report from the DFW TCEQ Smog Meeting

Citizens let the TCEQ know exactly how they felt last night. Most spoke out about the natural gas production, coal fired plants, and cement plants.

After one citizen spoke about the role gas drilling is playing in our air quality problems, Susana Hildebrand, Chief Engineer/Deputy Director, TCEQ asked the following question:
"What does natural gas have to do with it. We're talking about smog."
Which summed up why we have such a huge air quality problem...The TCEQ just doesn't get it. TXSharon talks about the TCEQ's inability to see things clearly.

Mayor Tillman had the following to say about how the TCEQ is ignoring the fact that the natural gas industry is an ozone source.

"Are you here to protect the citizens, the people who came out here today, or are you here to protect large corporations?" Tillman asked. "Because frankly, I don't know whose side you're on."

There were 150 to 200 people at the meeting. 42 speakers and all but one spoke out against TCEQ and their lack of protection for the citizens of Texas. The one was Ed Ireland, executive director of the Barnett Shale Energy Education Council, the industry spin doctor himself.
Click here to read the article in the Star-Telegram.

It sounds like the City of Dallas getting ready to allow gas drilling

WFAA reported that it has confirmed that gas drilling is being considered in the City of Dallas
Here are a few paragraphs from the report.

We're not talking about some obscure, out-of-the-way location; we've learned that the city has sold mineral rights to property around lakes, golf courses, and even parks where families play with their children.

Gas well supporters insist there will be no drilling actually at city parks, and activities will be kept at least 300 feet from homes.

Click here for the WFAA report.

It appears that Dallas has signed gas leases with XTO Energy.

Under that deal, the council agreed to lease city-owned property at five sites along the city's western boundary, including a large acreage tract at Love Field airport, to XTO Energy and Trinity East Energy for about $34million.

Click here for complete story from the Platts.

TCEQ DFW Clean Air Public Meeting

Please come to the TCEQ meeting Thursday night – and help spread the word.
Let the TCEQ know that we’re paying attention and we expect them to get tough on industry!

TCEQ DFW Clean Air Public Meeting

Date: Thursday, June 24, 2010
Time: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Location: Arlington City Hall Chambers (same place as the ozone hearing in March)
Street: 101 W. Abram Street
City/Town: Arlington, TX

View Map
Also: Please join us at the pre-meeting meetup at Fuzzy’s Tacos; info below.

Description
This is the kick-off meeting to the new TCEQ Clean Air SIP process and the first State meeting on DFW smog in four years! The "Eight-Hour Ozone State Implementation Plan Revision Stakeholder Group for the Dallas-Fort Worth Area" is required by the TCEQ since DFW does not currently meet federal EPA ozone standards. TCEQ's goal is "to discuss the development of the DFW Eight-Hour Ozone SIP revision and to hear the public's ideas on potential control strategies for the area." Our reply is simple: Get as Tough on Industry as you’ve been on my Car!The meeting is divided into two parts:

1. TCEQ Presentation

2. Audience Q&A/Discussion

We need a strong showing of clean air supporters similar to the new EPA proposed ozone standard hearing we organized back in March. As the temps and ozone alert days continue to increase in the DFW area, let's ensure TCEQ knows we're paying attention and remind them that they have the authority to place the same pollution and emissions standards on the oil, gas and coal industries (which are readily available) as are placed on the auto industry/our vehicles.

There's a pre-meeting meet up at Fuzzy's Taco Shop (510 East Abram St, 3 blks from City Hall) at 6 pm for anyone interested. Get your tacos and beer buzz on to get you in the mood!

For specific talking points and a distributable flyer (PDF): http://youngsierrans.wordpress.com/2010/06/17/tceq-dfw-clean-air-plan-public-meeting/

More info on TCEQ's DFW Public Meeting: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/implementation/air/sip/dfw_stakeholder_2.html

Please help spread the word about this important meeting. We're seeking volunteers to create signage/messaging and speakers ready to "ask questions" during the Q&A section of the hearing. Expectations are high for an entertaining evening with a 70% chance for shenanigans.

For questions, volunteer or carpool, please contact: http://www.dfwsip@gmail.com/ or 972-230-3185.

This notice originated with The North Texas Clean Air Task Force (Downwinders at Risk - League of Women Voters - Environmental Defense Fund - North Central Texas Communities Alliance - Public Citizen - Sierra Club - Texas Oil and Gas Accountability Project).

Williams Response to Gasland

Williams response to Gasland.
Click here to read.

No comment.

Important: Flower Mound Town Council Meeting Tonight, 6:00 pm.

Please attend the Town Council Meeting tonight. There are some troubling items on the agenda.
Please ask our Town Council to TABLE any decisions tonight until the following:

• The new Advisory Board is in place and can make recommendations.
• An extensive independent study has been done on Centralized Compression and larger ...compressors.
• There are Public Hearings on any pipeline or oil & gas ordinance changes.

2121 Cross Timbers Road
Flower Mound, Texas 75028
972.874.6000

If you cannot attend, please send an e-mail today.
Click here for e-mail information.

EPA Public Meeting: Hydraulic Fracturing Study

EPA Hydraulic Fracturing Study
Public Meetings: July, August 2010

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding a series of meetings to obtain public input on EPA's upcoming research study to investigate the potential adverse impact that hydraulic fracturing may have on water quality and public health.

Click here for more information on hydraulic fracturing and EPA's research study.

EPA will be holding public events in the following cities:

• Fort Worth, Texas: July 8, 2010
• Denver, Colorado: July 13, 2010
• Canonsburg, PA: July 22, 2010
• Binghamton, NY: August 12, 2010

Click here for information on all meetings.

Please complete a Registration Form if you plan to attend one of these meetings. Capacity at the meeting sites is limited, and EPA wants to ensure that everyone who wishes to attend can be accommodated.

EPA will update this Web site to provide information on how to participate in these public meetings via Webinar.

Fort Worth, Texas
Date: July 8, 2010
Location: Hilton Fort Worth, 815 Main Street.

Time: 6:00pm – 10:00pm; pre-registration begins at 5:00pm
To register for this meeting, click here.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

This one tugs at the heart strings. A video of the gulf disaster with the TV show Glee's season finale song "Somewhere over the rainbow",

Click here

Deja Vu in the Gulf

It seems that an event very similar to the BP Blow out happened 31 years ago. Apparently the industry did not learn anything from the previous accident.

Click here for the video from the Rachel Maddow Show.
The video is a bit confusing at first but then gets to the point. Just hang in there for a few seconds.

TXOGAP Presents: Gasland - HBO Movie Watch Parties

Texas OGAP Presents:

GASLAND - HBO Movie Watch Parties

Hello Texas OGAPers -On Monday, June 21st GASLAND, Josh Fox's award winning documentary will preview on HBO. Thousands of us are getting together in living rooms around the state to watch this award winning documentary.

When Josh Fox received an offer to drill for natural gas under his property in Pennsylvania, he did what few landowners think to do-he conducted his own research into the drilling process.

With a hand-held camera in one hand and a banjo on his knee, Fox hit the road on a 24 state tour to conduct a "seat-of-pants investigation" . In the process, he filmed the award winning documentary, GASLAND, that uncovers the dirty truth about the so-called "clean energy".

Winner of the special Jury Prize at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, GASLAND, is more than a documentary. It is a piece of art with beautiful cinematography that propels the audience to interact with collective gasps of horror, jubilant applause, hilarity and tears.

Click on this link for a map showing GASLAND Movie Watch Parties in your area. No party near you? Host your own and get on the map by sending an email to Texas.OGAP@earthworksaction.org.

After the movie, there will be a chance to discuss all your gas drilling concerns with friends and neighbors. Texas OGAP will provide each host with the following organizational tools:

• Drill-Right Texas: Best Oil and Gas Development Practices for Texas
• Texas OGAP eAlerts signup information so you can be ready for the 2011 Legislative session
• A sample letter asking your Congress member to co-sponsor the FRAC Act
• Find a Movie Watch Party or Host your own.

Get informed, get organized, get ready.

Regards,

Sharon Wilson, Texas OGAP Organizer

First State DFW Smog Meeting in 4 Years

FIRST STATE DFW SMOG MTG in 4 YEARS
Thursday, June 24th
7 to 9 PM
Arlington City Council Chambers
101 West Abram
map

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Wants Your Opinion.
We Want You to Give It to Them.

IT'S STARTING! TCEQ is coming to town to begin drafting a new clean air plan for DFW. TELL THEM WHAT YOU WANT.

TALKING POINTS: After TCEQ staff goes through their presentations, they'll ask you what you think they should do in a new DFW clean air plan. Here are some suggestions:

• ADOPT THE LOCAL PLAN YOU DUMPED IN '06... details
  
• BE AS TOUGH ON INDUSTRY AS YOU ARE ON MY CAR! details
  
• NO MORE PLANS THAT ONLY WORK ON PAPER details
  
• AIM THE PLAN AT THE AREA WHERE THE SMOG IS WORST

Get all the details HERE.

Oil & Gas worried recent accidents may bring stronger regulation

Houston we have a problem: At least that is what the Oil & Gas Industry is worried about.

Last week was an explosive week for the natural gas production industry.

The past month has brought other concerns out. It was reported that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality failed to report the proper findings to the City of Fort Worth. TXSharon posted the documents obtained through a public information request that showed major deception going on within the state agency.

Natural gas drilling may burn cleaner but the extraction of it is dangerous, FLAMMABLE and dirty. In a recent Houston Chronicle article it states the industry is worried that the recent BP spill and gas drilling accidents in the past week could bring on stronger regulations. Oil & Gas is worried about the impact to the Houston area business climate. Why is it the industry never gets this worried about the impact on the residents living near natural gas production facilities?

The following paragraphs are shocking. It seems Chesapeake's CEO Aubrey McClendon, doesn't think the recent accidents will have any meaningful impact on the industry. Check out the ifs, ands or buts in his statement.

“You want to have no accidents ever, but as long as humans are involved and you’re dealing with great unknowns underneath the earth, you’re going to have some surprising things happen,” he said.
“The question is what do you do with it? If BP had been able to control that spill in a day, we wouldn’t be talking about the BP incident today.”

IF the industry is better regulated AND the O & G Industry is held accountable for their actions, we may be able to eliminate these accidents in the future.

IF the industry starts to care more about the health, safety AND quality of life of those living near these sites AND less about profit, natural gas could become the important "bridge" fuel it is being touted to be.

BUT don't hold your breath.

Click here to read the article.

Two days left to apply for Flower Mound Oil & Gas Advisory Board

Tuesday, June 15th is the last day to turn in an application to be on the Flower Mound Oil & Gas Advisory Board. This is a temporary board position.

The Flower Mound Oil & Gas Advisory Board will review the current Oil & Gas Ordinance and make recommendations for revisions to the town.

Pick up an application from the Town Secretary's Office and return by Tuesday, June 15th.

Flower Mound Town Hall
2121 Cross Timbers Road
Flower Mound, Texas 75028
972.874.6000

The Explosive Week Continues and Pennsylvania Takes Action.

In the past 7 days, 4 natural gas production and pipeline explosions have occurred. Yesterday there was another in the small Texas panhandle town of Darrouzett.
Click here to read the New York Times article.

The explosive week continues.

Yes, two of these explosions involved pipelines and not actual gas drilling wells. But just take a look at the Texas Railroad Commission GIS Map Viewer for Oil, Gas and Pipeline Data. You can see where there is gas drilling, there are numerous pipelines associated with natural gas production. This only increases the likelihood of accidents. Some of these pipelines run through neighborhoods, near schools, parks, etc.

Yesterday the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection took a drastic step against Houston based EOG Resources Inc., formally Enron Oil and Gas. They have ordered that all gas drilling by EOC, which affects close to 70 unfinished wells, be halted! This order includes drilling and hydrofracturing of the EOG wells until the DEP can finish their investigation and order the company to make the necessary changes.
Click here for article in the Pennsylvania's Times Leader.

It is great to see a state agency take control and protect their citizens. Pennsylvania has their Department of Environmental Protection and we here and Texas have the Texas Railroad Commission, TCEQ and the Department of Health Services. We all know what they have done to protect us. (enter goose egg here)

BP buys search term "Oil Spill"

Unbelievable!

BP will pay fees to google search to have their website rank high on the result list when the term "oil spill" is typed in by users.

Click here for article.

An Explosive Week for Gas Drilling!

In a five day span, there have been at least 3 natural gas related explosions!

June 3rd, 2010 Clearfield County, PA gas well blowout that spewed natural gas and over 35,000 gallons of drilling wastewater for over 16 hours. This explosion and natural gas leak was so bad, FAA prohibited planes within a 3 mile radius of the area!!

PennDOT and the Federal Aviation Administration are prohibiting planes below 1,000 feet in a three-mile radius around the site. The big concern was fire because the natural gas is flammable, Spadoni said. Any spark could ignite a forest fire in any of the gas-soaked areas.
Click here for info.

June 7th, 2010 Morgantown, West Virginia explosion at a natural gas well. Seven workers injured.
Click here for info.

June 7th, 2010 Johnson County, Texas a natural gas pipeline explodes killing one and injuring eight. One resident living 1/2 mile away said the heat was scorching as she walked out onto her porch!!
Click here for more info.

She was watching TV when the blast rattled her windows. A wall of heat met her at the front porch.
"It felt like it was just scorching me," she said.

After reading about these explosions, it is clear that 1000 feet is not enough distance from homes, schools, hospitals, parks, churches or any habitable buildings!

Flower Mound Town Council passes Oil & Gas Moratorium

Last night the Flower Mound Town Council passed a moratorium on all new permits for natural gas production operations. Including pipelines, natural gas compressors and centralized collection facilities (CCF).

This is good news but unfortunately does not include any applications that have not been approved yet or amended applications. The application from Titan Operating on the Hilliard property will NOT be affected by this moratorium.

This is a step in the right direction and shows that Flower Mound Town Council and Mayor are listening to the community!!

Click here for the article in the Flower Mound Leader
Click here for the CBS 11 report

North Texas Gas Well Explosion

This is happening right now at a natural gas facility on the Hood and Johnson County line.
It has been reported that here are injured and missing victims.
Click here to read story and watch live video.

More info to follow when available.

Well Blowouts Can Happen In Shale Drilling!

A gas well blowout in Clearfield County, PA caused highly flammable natural gas and toxic water to spew out of the well for over 16 hours. The accident is under investigation. It is suspected that the problem could be with the "blowout preventer" just like the BP Deepwater Horizon Well in the Gulf. Click here to read the article from Mark Levy, Associated Press.

"The event at the well site could have been a catastrophic incident that endangered life and property," Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger said in a statement.
"This was not a minor accident, but a serious incident that will be fully investigated by this agency with the appropriate and necessary actions taken quickly."

If the agency finds that mistakes were made, it will take steps to prevent similar errors from repeating, he said. He did not elaborate on any environmental damage.

There were no homes within a mile of the well, and polluted drilling water was prevented from reaching a waterway, said Dan Spadoni, an agency spokesman.

This accident should bring into question the issue of "setback distance" from a well to homes. Does the FAA know something we don't know?

As a precaution, the Federal Aviation Administration issued a flight restriction shortly after 11 a.m., saying no planes below a 1,000 feet should go within three miles of the site. That restriction remained in effect past 2 p.m., Hanger said.

Can this happen here in the Barnett Shale?
It already has. Jack Smith with the Star Telegram reports that more than 20 blowouts have occurred at Barnett Shale wells!