This explains the Flower Mound vote to disregard the clear evidence that Shale Gas Threatens Human Health and deny the temporary suspension in drilling permits. The Mayor and one of the council members have leases with Williams Petroleum.
Flower Mound Council Member Levenick
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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Can you impeach a mayor?
Does anyone know if MAYOR STEPHEN M. SMITH or his Williams Production bed mate COUNCILMAN MARK K. LEVENICK revealed their interests in this gas lease to the people of Flower Mound, their City Manager, City Attorney or the public at large ever?
OUCH, Sharon!! Why do you always have to shine such bright lights on dark deeds and motives. Secrecy, lies, and half truths are essential for corruption and exploitation. We got some elementary school kids on the block who would be willing to give a free seminar on values (what's really important) and ethics (how one should behave) to our esteemed representatives of the people. The gassers are beyond help by the kids, unfortunately–maybe a seminar through some "scared straight" type of program, MAYBE!
It's not the men on those contracts, it's the mom's who are Mayor and council "Mom".
Right families but Jody Smith is our mayor and Jean Levenick is a council member. Steve and Mark are their husbands. Either way, not good. Clearly Williams dominated the meeting last night so I would have to say that played a huge part in the decision. Doesn't seem right.
My apologies to the people of Flower Mound for incorrectly guessing the names of their esteemed mayor and council member. I stand corrected. I named their respective spouses instead, so I duly apologize for my error.
Now on to the important part- Whether I and making the decision or m wife is, when I have a vested personal interest in the outcome, then it's a conflict of interest. These two upstanding citizens and elected officials are hiding behind the 'application' of the ordinance. It doesn't chnage the fact that there is a conflict of interest. The HONORABLE and ETHICAL thing to do would have been to recuse themselves from the vote to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.
I would really like to find out when these two fools are up for re-election, because I have a permit to file myself right about that time – the permit I'm going to need to lead the "Vote for The Other Guy" Parade right down Main Street.
Never mind the fact that I'm a resident of unincorporated Decatur, the closest thing we have to an elected official is the idiot road commissioner.
These moms have some huge balls!
So, it's the wives on those leases, SO WHAT? This still is a serious conflict of interest, since they are BOTH part of the Town Government AND on the leases.
In some places, that stunt can get you prosecuted! And, they don't have a good baseline air quality study. At this point, I don't think TCEQ's prior air studies are worth the paper they are printed on!
My son and daughter-in-law were considering buying a house in Flower Mound. Since then I have found many links and a few blogs regarding health issues, environmental damage and property confiscation through eminent domain. Now that the city government has been corrupted there's not much hope for protecting the residents. I will strongly encourage my family to stay clear of the Barnett Shale.
The sun will eventually explode killing us all. Let's go hide under some rock until then. With cars, gas stations, airplanes, and trucks emitting all that benzene what's a person to do? Oh, I forgot to mention laundry soap too.
We shoud all go just hide until the end comes………..
Anon 11:51
Yes, we are exposed to so many toxins everyday that there is absolutely no reason to expose ourselves to even more when they can be prevented. The fugitive emissions can be easily and affordability prevented.
Maybe you have some thoughts on why industry isn't willingly taking those measures.
According to the EPA's own website, as well as the CDC's, 1/2 of the benzene people are exposed to comes from ciggaretts. Next are fumes from fueling your car at a gas station. Why waste time on the Natural Gas Industry when the top polluters are big tobbaco, and the convience store operators? I don't see anybody going after them. I can still go right down the street from me and buy gas and ciggaretts. What's up with that?
According to Dr. Honeycutt, TCEQ Toxicologist, the levels of benzene in the Barnett Shale are like sticking a gasoline can under your nose.
The difference between smoking and Barnett Shale emissions is: You have a choice about smoking and even fueling your car at a gas station. You have NO CHOICE if you happen to live in an area with gas development.
Your arguments don't pass muster but nice try.
Cigarette smoking is a choice. Benzene exposure from the gas industry should NOT be a choice of where you live.
Also, I dare you to compare a MSDS for laundry soap against one for benzene some time. Does the laundry soap say anything about leukemia? People who say they are equally dangerous are clueless!
Hint: Read a good toxicology book sometime if you think benzene is harmless. One of them plainly said under benzene:"If you can smell it, it's at a dangerous level." The same saying does not apply to laundry soap.
Industry must be coaching their minions to use that cigarette and gas station comparison. It keeps turning up with almost identical wording. I bet the send out talking points for the commenters to copy and paste.
TEQ's General Council Les Trobman told me on Thursday 17, in a phone conversation that the TEQ has mishandeled the release of the air quality issue. And the TEQ's position is there is no immediate danger to folks living in the Barnnet Shale. Reg 4 Air Section Manager Alyssa Taylor also told me on the phone Thursday 17, that Flower Mound is in the cleanest part of the shale because it's dry gas. And that the people in Flower Mound are not in any danger from toxins. The problem areas of the shale deal with wet gas. The gas Williams is producing on the Smith property is going directly into an Atmos gas line without treatment proving gas to an electric power generation plant in N Tex. And provinding natural gas to more than 225,000 homes including Flower Mound. I would challenge you to hang a gallon of gasoline under your nose and see how far you get.
You will most likely passout within a minute. Mr Honeycut spoke out of line, and is try to promote himself.
TCEQ botched the DISH problems so bad that I don't trust them anymore.
And, untreated gas could be a problem to burn with varying H2S and C2-C5 levels. But, maybe the plant doesn't care about those issues. I know some power plants do worry about gas BTU content jumping around.
If you are going to make such outlandish statements, then please attach your name to them.
As to the dry gas meme/claim/line of bull that many producers continue to feed,…
BS gas is 89% methane. Dry gas is considered to be 97-98% methane. Thus, industry really can’t call BS gas dry gas with credibility.
As evidence that BS gas is not dry, you can see condensate tanks, glycoldehydrators and pumpjacks all over the place.
Even completely dry gas has benzene.
anonymous 1:03 sounds like it must be smith repeating what wms has instructed.
I saw where some shill said on another blog that benzene is as dangerous as Formula 409. Again, check out the MSDs's, to say nothing of the health dangers found in studies of benzene.
I've seen that 409 comment dozens of times. Maybe we should give them a choice:
Shot of 409
Shot of benzene
They just parrot what their employers tell them. That's why they all say the same stuff.
Tim Ruggiero said… MAYOR STEPHEN M. SMITH or his Williams Production bed mate COUNCILMAN MARK K. LEVENICK *** Tim, neither one of these people are on council. Their wives are.
Why do you always have to shine such bright lights on dark deeds and motives. *** Public information, how is that dark or with motives?
In some places, that stunt can get you prosecuted! *** Or killed in Iraq, Iran and several other countries
My son and daughter-in-law were considering buying a house in Flower Mound.*** I understand there may not be any oil or gas in the District of Columbia (only hot air)
According to Dr. Honeycutt, TCEQ Toxicologist, the levels of benzene in the Barnett Shale are like sticking a gasoline can under your nose. *** How many pad site are active in the Barnett Shale? Of that number how many have been tested by the TCEQ? Of those tested – what percentage shows high levels of benzene?
TCEQ botched the DISH problems so bad that I don't trust them anymore. *** So you will only trust the source that agrees with you?
Even completely dry gas has benzene. *** What level of Benzene is acceptable? The amount in Gasoline or Carpet backing? Make a rational, factual comparison.
I am not on either side, please everyone just make point that pass the smell test.
Sorry but you are obviously taking a side so stop with the pretense.
The TCEQ and several other agencies have said the benzene levels are way too high and dangerous.
Please try to keep up.
TXsharon said… The TCEQ and several other agencies have said the benzene levels are way too high and dangerous. *** Cite the report and location
My blog has a search box in the upper left. Do your own damn searches. I'm not going to play your silly game.
According to TCEQ there have been NO tests in Flower Mound by the commission. (Cite source: TCEQ DFW regional director) You seem to be the one playing games and perpetuating incorrect or incomplete information by use of omission or speculation.
Sharon, you may be wasting your breath. They will only take the time to search and research the TCEQ findings if they can take their heads out the asses of the gas companies long enough to do so.
BWAH ha ha! Tammi, I just choked on my vodka soda.
Levenick and Smith have violated 2 sections of the Flower Mound Town Charter: Article XI Section 11.10 states "No officer or employee of the Town of Flower Mound shall ever accept directly or indirectly any gift, favor, or privilege, from any public utility co, or other co, person or persons, enjoying a grant, contract, franchise priviege or easement from or with said Town, during the term of office of such officer or during such employment of such employee; except as may be authorized by law, or ordinance. Any officer or employee of the Town who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and may be punished by any fine that may be prescribed by ordinance for this offense and shall forwith be removed from office. Section 11.03 states "No officer or employee of the Town of Flower Mound shall have a financial interest direct or indirect, in any contract with the Town, or be financially interested, directly or indirectly, in the sale to the Town of any land, material supplies or services, except on the behalf of the Town as an officer or employee. Any willful violation of this section shall constitute malfeasance in the office and any officer or employee guilty thereof shall forfeit their office.