Colorado investigates second spill near Williams gas drilling activity

There has been another spill near a Williams gas well in Colorado. This spill is near a gas well by a spring that was contaminated in the past by gas drilling activity.

State regulators are investigating a newly discovered spill at a natural gas well pad near a spring contaminated by gas operations. Williams Production reported the spill at the well site near Parachute in western Colorado Dec. 15. The company found the spill as part of an ongoing investigation into the contaminated spring.


Williams is currently under investigation for the previous contamination of the spring.

At recent Flower Mound Town Council Meetings in October, November, and December, many of us have had to sit and listen to West Flower Mound residents (who have all signed leases with Williams) get up and practically claim Williams is the Messiah of Gas Drilling. Heck, even Williams employees, too many to count, stood up at the last meeting praising themselves. Of course for those of us who have not been wined and dined by Williams at their Circle R Ranch rallies, this is not a surprise that Williams makes mistakes too.

US Policy Changes For Drilling On Public Lands

In a recent article in the Denver Post, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said new rules could bring stricter environmental standards for oil and gas drilling on public lands. Here are a few paragraphs from the article.

"We don't believe we ought to be drilling anywhere and everywhere," Salazar said at a news conference. "We believe we need a balanced approach and a thoughtful approach" that allows development of oil and gas leases on public lands while also protecting national parks, endangered species and municipal watersheds.

Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., the panel's chairman, said the changes "move us closer to balancing the scales after a decade in which oil and gas companies had free reign to run roughshod on America's public lands."

Maybe we will get lucky and these rules will apply to ALL gas and oil drilling in the future.

NCTCA Meeting Re-scheduled for Wed. Jan. 13

Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Where: Hotel Trinity - Inn Suites
IH30 @ Beach Street

Doors will open at 6:30pm for coffee, networking
and news interviews.
Meeting will begin at 7:00pm and end at 8:45pm

Texas Railroad Commission asks for opinion on whether it has authority to halt drilling

This article was in today's Star Telegram. It is about the TRC asking for Attorney General Greg Abbott's legal opinion on the commissions' authority to put a moratorium on drilling activity. Even the reporter is suspicious of Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams' intent. Making sure we are aware of the fact that Williams is a gas drilling supporter who receives quite a bit of support from the oil and gas industry.

It could take several months for Abbott’s office to respond, and drilling opponents might view Williams’ action as an attempt to delay the commission from taking up the moratorium issue.


Williams, a drilling advocate who has received substantial contributions from the oil and gas industry, is a potential Republican candidate for U.S. Senate.

News 8 and Denton Record Chronicle not afraid of big bad gas man

Many thanks to Brett Shipp and Chris Hawes at News 8 and Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe from the Denton Record Chronicle for raising awareness to what is really going on in the Barnett Shale.

News 8 reported about radioactive water in Wise and Parker County, and toxic air in Dish.

Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe has been doing a series of special reports about gas drilling.

Unlike other media groups, they aren't afraid of the big bad gas man.

2010 Kick-Off Campaign

North Central Texas Communities Alliance
Together we Bargain, Divided we Beg
Greetings!
North Central Texas Communities Alliance is a broad-based coalition of individuals, organizations and communities throughout the Barnett Shale area working on local, state and national levels for positive solutions to the problems related to natural gas drilling and production.

FEATURED SPEAKERS FOR JANUARY
Next Meeting: January 7, 2010
Where: Hotel Trinity - Inn Suites
IH30 @ Beach Street

Doors will open at 6:30pm for coffee, networking
and news interviews.
Meeting will begin at 7:00pm and end at 8:45pm

Guest Speakers
Senator Wendy Davis

One of our featured speakers will be Senator Davis, who has historically been an advocate for responsible mineral exploration and production in the Barnett Shale. Because of recent evidence of harmful chemicals produced from gas drilling, she and other state elected officials have been calling for additional testing and controls with natural gas drilling and production, and has been a statewide leader for stronger controls, both local and statewide, governing natural gas pipelines.


Mayor Tillman's video remarks
Mayor Calvin Tillman - Dish, Texas

Mayor Tillman has been on the front lines of the battle to keep his town safe and clean from the effects of uncontrolled pipelines and gas drilling within the city limits of Dish Texas. Much of the time being the Lone Ranger in he battle to save some of his town. His views and unique experiences with these very important issues are a must to hear in his own words.
Gas drilling trumps citizen protections?

As the time honored saying goes, you can be a part of the solution or continue to be a part of the problem. Only by working together for the common good can we even begin to protect our communities from unwanted and/or unneeded industrial activities that continue to harm the air we breathe or the water needed to sustain our quality of life.

Please join with us to help protect our future and the continued safety of our families. Our goal is to Communicate, to Educate and to Mobilize north central Texas citizens into action when the need arises.

North Central Texas Communities Alliance
Esther McElfish, Pres.
Gary Hogan, V.P.
Louis McBee, Treas.

http://www.nctca.net/

The Thin Line Film Fest to open with GASLAND

Press Release
GASLAND To Open Thin Line Film Fest

DENTON, TX - Thin Line Film Fest is pleased to announce the opening film for the upcoming 2010 festival held February 17-21, 2010. Two weeks after its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, GASLAND will make its Texas Premiere February 17th at 7PM at the historic Campus Theatre in downtown Denton, TX. The screening event will be attended by the filmmakers as well as those from North Texas featured in the film. The opening night reception will follow the screening.

When filmmaker Josh Fox discovers that Natural Gas drilling is coming to his area—the Catskills/Poconos region of Upstate New York and Pennsylvania, he sets off on a 24 state journey to uncover the deep consequences of the United States’ natural gas drilling boom. What he uncovers is truly shocking. Part verite travelogue, part expose, part mystery, part bluegrass banjo meltdown, part showdown, Josh and his banjo encounter EPA whistle blowers, congressmen, world recognized scientists, and some of the most incredibly inspiring and heart-wrenching stories of ordinary Americans fighting against fossil fuel giants for environmental justice.

Thin Line Film Fest: Texas' International Documentary Film Festival is held February 17-21, 2010 in Downtown Denton, TX. Tickets and passes for all events will go on sale January 18th corresponding with the launch of the updated festival website featuring the complete 2010 lineup along with summaries, trailers, and more.

For more information on Thin Line Film Fest, please contact Joshua Butler (Festival Director) - 214-727-3567 or joshuabutler@texasfilmmakers.org

For more information on GASLAND, please contact Josh Fox (Director) - 917-913-9610 or orifox@aol.com or visit www.gaslandthemovie.com.