Rep. Burnam’s comments on proposed new TCEQ rules for oil and gas equipment
Dear friends,
I wanted to share with you comments Rep. Burnam submitted today on TCEQ’s proposed new rules, revising permits required for oil and gas equipment in Texas. [click here for comments] As described in this article from the Star-Telegram (http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/09/14/2468598/fort-worth-democrats-say-proposed.html), Rep. Burnam feels that the new rules, while a step in the right direction, don’t go far enough to address the problems associated with urban drilling in the Barnett Shale.
Given the intense pressure that TCEQ is under to weaken the proposed rules, I hope you will submit even brief comments asking the TCEQ to strengthen the proposed rules by: 1) not exempting existing equipment (at least in heavily populated areas) from the new rules, 2) strengthening the incentives for producers to lower emissions, and 3) expanding the definition of a “receptor” to include places of work and recreation. You can also simply submit comments in support of Rep. Burnam’s (or anyone else’s) comments. [see sample comments from TREAD]
Please note that comments are due this Friday, October 3.
The rules proposal, including summaries and explanations of provisions, can be found under “Oil and Gas Amendments to Permit by Rule and Repeal of Standard Permit” here: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/rules/prop.html.
To submit comments:
Written comments may be submitted to Michael Parrish, MC 205, Office of Legal Services, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087, or faxed to (512) 239-4808. Electronic comments may be submitted at: http://www5.tceq.state.tx.us/rules/ecomments/. File size restrictions may apply to comments being submitted via the eComments system. All comments should reference Rule Project Number 2010-018-106-PR. The comment period closes September 17, 2010. Copies of the proposed rulemaking can be obtained from the commission’s Web site at http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/nav/rules/propose_adopt.html. For further information, please contact Anne Inman at 512-239-1276 or by e-mail at ainman@tceq.state.tx.us.
Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.
Best regards,
Craig Adair
Chief of Staff
State Representative Lon Burnam
(512) 463-0740
craig.adair@house.state.tx.us
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 TCEQ is a big waste of tax money. It does little or nothing for ordinary citizens–only works for the industrial polluters and O&G–that's all. I hope Lon can get something done. Good work Lon!
While better than what we have, I don't think Rep Burnham's suggestions go far enough. If an idiot operator like Aruba Petroleum is already required by state law to report 'Any spill, leak or fire' and repeatedly do not, cover up and hide their spills, giving them 72 hours to report it, you might as well give them a complete pass. I don't get why any operator needs 72 hours to fix a leak. Who's watching now? Who starts the timer? Oh, that's right, the operator does.
Since Christine and I were the ones who reported EVERY leak and spill Aruba had, I think the 'rule' should be this: If someone other than the operator calls in the leak or spill, the TCEQ sets the timer on that call from the non-operator, and does not notify the operator of the call. TCEQ waits until the clock strikes 72 hours, then notifes the operator that they are going to be fined $1 Million for failing to report the spill, and $10,000 an hour until the spill and/or leak is fixed or cleaned up.
Currently, the spiller drillers like Aruba have zero incentive to report their spills and leaks. They never once did in the past just on the site outside our back door, why would we think they would do so in the future? Past behavior is usually a pretty good indicator of future behavior.
Friday Oct. 3rd ?