Remember the condensate spill at Aruba Petroleum’s Barnett Shale gas well where the condensate tank overflowed for 12 hours because no one would respond to emergency calls? You can see videos HERE.
Here are the test results from that spill:
That’s some pretty nasty stuff! But, no worries! The Texas Railroad Commission was on the scene to make sure none of the runoff from that nasty stuff will end up in your drinking water. Aruba covered it up with nice, clean sand.
The TRC thinks that’s a fine way to handle toxic spills because Aruba has done the same thing for 3 of the 4 other toxic spills at this same site. The exception being the drilling mud spill which was hosed off so the toxins were washed away, right into the Denton Creek.
Please note the similarity in the above chemicals and the chemicals found in DISH resident’s blood, urine and drinking water. Yet, the state is trying to say the chemicals in DISH could have come from other sources.
You might find it interesting to note… never mind. I found a more extensive list and I’m checking it.
P. S. I got one of these with the extra filters that filter out BTEX. That’s not a recommendation though, just FYI.
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.
- Web |
- More Posts(5121)
Thank you for the information on the filter for drinking water. I've been looking into rain water collection systems and found the following link:
http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/iwt/Rainwater.asp
I originally thought I could use the water from roof but have found out asphalt shingles also contaminate the water.
What exactly is BTEX? I guess I haven't learned all of the toxic waste vocabulary yet/
So, by the states definition this would constitute the "normal use and enjoyment" of the property, as to suggest that these levels of toxins existed prior to the gas facility, when they were using and enjoying their property as it was originally intended, as a horse pasture. I may be a Communist, Marxist, Stalinist, –insert Russian reference here–, but Mamma didn't raise no fool.
BTEX = Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene
Minor correction- The state does not define what is 'normal use and enjoyment…" These are the carefully crafted words the executives from Aruba have stated to in their response to the Denton Recorde Chronicle's questioning of them as to their emissions-which I might point out, Aruba is being cited for. Aruba, naturally, believing their own lies (they have too, now) are appealing the enforcements.
It's laughable to think that Aruba really thinks we can have 'normal use and enjoyment' of our property when they have contaminated it with thousands of gallons of carcinogenic soup, ruined the exisiting landscaping, and of course, placed permanent piping, both underground and above ground, well heads and condensate tanks-and all the emissions that come from all of these things that one does not have to be on top of to smell.-and that's just the emissions one CAN smell. Some fo these emissions have no odor, but are no less effective as an asphixiant than the others.
Now we have a themal incinerator on the property- I'm waiting to hear how nose bleeds and rashes are considered "normal use and enjoyment'. Then again, maybe this is one of the ways Aruba "Continues to explore methods to reduce our emissions", even though they "Believe the levels prior were at 'Levels protective of human health".
Speaking of which, notice how they state 'human' health. I guess our livestock, dogs and horses getting sick aren't even up for discussion?
In other words, Aruba not only beleives their emissions are okay for humans, the livestock don't even enter the equation.
The real idiots here are the State – they are the ones who continue to issue permits to everyone with a shovel and few bucks for the admin fee for the permit.
Tim,
There is something wrong with laws that trample on one person's rights to preserve the rights of another. Our laws are supposed to ensure liberty and justice for all. You are certainly not receiving either. We need to urge changes at all levels of government to protect the rights of all citizens.
energy companies have been getting away with murder for 150 years. Maybe 'murder' is a pretty strong word, but if through the repeated gross negligent acts of the operators, people get sick and die-and there plenty who have and plenty more whose health have been severely affected, I'm not sure what else to call it.
That said, energy companies have been doing their dirty work for a long time, and only until recently have they been encroaching into populated areas-and areas where they shouldn't be drilling at all-schools, hospitals, parks, and of course, within yards of people's homes. There are more and more people who are not only coming together to fight these atrocities, they are also starting to win.
One concerned Corinth homeowner organized hundreds of her neighbors and have delivered a petition against XTO obtaining variances on all ordinances related to drilling in city limits-and the mayor and council are at least starting to listen, if not be concerned themselves. Why? Because they see that there are more signatures on the petition than even voted in the last mayoral and council election. They would have to be stupid to ignore this-at least if they want to keep their seats. We're hearing now that the city is considering not granting XTO the permits to even drill. I smell a victory here.
This just goes to show that when large numbers of people are affected, even one person can make a tremendous difference in the outcome.
I'm committed to the fight, however long it takes. I just got back from a speaking tour in rural Pennsylvania, and those people, hard as it is to believe, have been treated far worse than my family has. One woman has a waste pit that is at least the size of a football field downhill and adjacent from her property. What a wonderful view she has. On the left, she has another drill site, complete with a tank battery, and the pad also serves as an equipment depot. Very attractive. The irony in this situation is that a Range Resources employee built a large and expensive home across from hers, and then his employer moved in and turned it into a industrial site. This can't happen too often, as far as I'm concerned.
We're making great progress, both collectively and individually-and while it might be slow going, the tide is turning against the energy companies. I hope they are at least beginning to re-evaluate their drill sites.