XOM stockholders aren’t going to like what Mrs. Burns reveals about the way “XOMan” operates on her family’s 38,000 ranch. Upstream, an industry publication, wrote a feature story about Elizabeth Burns and her efforts to get ExxonMobil to clean up it’s act.
The article requires a subscription but you can sign up for a 2 week free trial HERE. UPDATE: Upstream generously allowed Mrs. Burns to post a pdf copy of the ENTIRE article.
Tracking the scent of oil giant legacy
Rancher Elizabeth Burns is single handedly taking on the might of US supermajor ExxonMobil in her struggle to get the company and its pipeline partner El Paso to clean up its actYOU have to smell it to believe it. Elizabeth “Toddy” Burns grabs a handful of wet Texas sand, rubs it between her fingers and takes a big whiff.
“Uuuuuugggghhhhh,” she grimaces. “Fresh condensate.”
The small pile of dirt excavated by Burns’ posthole digger smells like a filling station, but the nearest place to buy gasoline is 40 miles (64 kilometres) away from the ranch.
She shoots photos and video as the hole fills with foul-smelling water.
The hunt for condensate leaks is just part of Burns’ effort to get ExxonMobil to clean up operations on the 38,000-acre McGill Ranch that has been in her husband’s family for three generations.
It is this reconnaisance that she documents each day with defiance on her blog rancholoslosmalulos.blogspot.com, “A satirical view from the McGill Brothers lease”.
The article (in its entirety HERE) is not at all something you would expect from an industry friendly publication like Upstream. It’s obvious the author, Noah Brenner, fully appreciates the amount of courage it takes to stand up to giant ExxonMobil. I was surprised to see exposure of the common, industry enabling practice of regulators allowing industry to self-regulate.
“We are actively engaged in a programme to remediate environmental issues that may exist,” ExxonMobil spokeswoman Margaret Ross said in an email.
However, Burns says those are dubious assertions, as she claims the company carries out its own testing and subcontractors file clean reports on land that still oozes sludge below the surface.
You might remember, that Mrs. Burns was sued by XOM in an effort to gag her. This affront to free speech was met with outrage in the blogosphere.
ExxonMobil! Free Mrs. Burns!
A visit to the Rancho los Malulos blog makes it easy to see why XOM would what to silence Burns. She does what hundreds of millions of housewives do all over the planet: She makes home movies . XOM does not want you to see her home movies.
XOM: See Why ExxonMobil Wants to Gag Mrs. Burns
You can read the entire Upstream article HERE.
Pictured is Mrs. Burns, the unicycle she rides in her videos and her dancing, post hole digging skeleton.
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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The majority of the industry does not approve of the kinds of operations that ExxonMobil has in South Texas. Others in the industry like to read these kinds of stories.
Besides getting support from bloggers (which I soooo appreciate) I get a lot of support and encouragement from folks in the industry. Most of my friends work in the oil business in some capacity. They all hate XOM because it really does make the job harder for companies that try hard. Other companies get fines for leaks and a lot of trouble when they don't follow the rules. They resent that the RRC lets XOM operate across the state like they do.
Oh, check out the O'Connor story in the newest Texas Monthly. The O'Connors complain about XOM not fixing leaks — and I can so relate.
Srong women rock! Kudos to Mrs. Burns for her relentless pursuit of justice.
I agree that most of the employees don't like the pollution because they know it will hurt them and their families. But, most of the people at the top of these companies don't care and don't try. Look at CHK and the situation in DISH, TX. It would be so easy for those companies to prevent most of the emissions. Instead they deny, and stonewall and lie, lie, lie. The very worst of humanity. They won't do it voluntarily and that is why we need REAL regulation.
Lots and lots of people up here are getting hurt both physically and financially.