UPDATE: For the best reporting to date on this case see: Better reporting on Range Resources water contamination case in Parker County, it is a long but essential read if you are interested in this case.
There is an article in the Star-Telegram about the Parker County water well contamination and the EPA Imminent and Substantial Endangerment Order to Protect Drinking Water in Southern Parker County.
Ruling on Parker County water contamination is questioned
by Jack Smith
This article does not tell the whole story and I have a lot more to say about that on EARTHblog. If you read the EPA order, all 11 pages, the questions will change. The EPA investigation is amazingly thorough.
Here is the comment I just posted to the Star-Telegram article. The numbers in my comment correspond with the numbers in the EPA order.
I hope that readers will take the time to read through the 11 pages of the EPA order. The investigation is VERY thorough. If you read through it the conversation and questions will change.
There is a pattern. Shortly after drilling occurs, water is polluted. If you read the order you will see a timeline.
Domestic Well #1
- #8. lies approximately 120′ from the horizontal well bore
- #12. April 2005 water well was drilled and neither water well driller nor owner noticed any signs of gas in the water well.
- #5. August 2009, production began from the Range Resources well.
- #14. December 2009, water well begins to effervesce.
Domestic Well #2
- #9. lies approximately 470′ from the horizontal well bore.
- #34. August 2002 water well was drilled and neither water well driller nor owner noticed any signs of gas in the water well.
- #5. August 2009, production began from the Range Resources well.
- #36. May 2010, the owner of Domestic Well 2 first noticed that the water had begun to effervesce.
The EPA order also goes into more detail about how they determined that the gas in the water is a match with the gas from the Range Resources well. The water well #1 contains several chemicals that are known drilling chemicals and DO NOT OCCUR NATURALLY.
What I know is that houses shake when fracking occurs under them. It defies all logic to believe that something profound is not happening in the geologic formation below.
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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Will read the EPA document now. Just wanted to thank you for your brave work in posting this blog. I left the Cleburne area back in 2008 when a salt water disposal well was planned directly beside my 10 acres. I felt powerless & ran to South Central Texas. Now all my new neighbors here have signed Eagleford Shale leases despite info I shared on the Barnett experience. This destruction is seemingly unescapable. We must stand up. Kudos to your valiant efforts!
If you can gather together some people in the EF Shale, I will come speak and bring Calvin Tillman, Mayor of DISH with me.
If you are willing to speak with a reporter who is trying to raise a warning flag in the EF Shale, please contact me.
It seems there is no where to run.
Someone should help Gene Powell pack up his rolling oxygen cart and go home. He's lost all his marbles.
Really!!! Powell's marbles long ago rolled too far away to try to collect them.
I wonder if there might be a connection between that oxygen cart and our bad air. <-scratches head->
The FWST has a "Cheer and Jeers" section on Saturdays. Feel free to go to their website and send one in.
I sent in a jeer regarding this article and questioning what journalism school the writer went to. The response I got suggested the staff at the FWST was less than amused with my question.