For Immediate Release:
Non-Profit Environmental Testing
Fort Worth Texas– Josh Fox, producer of the award winning documentary Gasland will join the Board of Directors for the announcement of ShaleTest, a non-profit organization that will provide environmental testing on water, soil and air for lower income families. ShaleTest was formed by DISH, TX Mayor Calvin Tillman, and Wise County property owner Tim Ruggierro. Other founding board members include founder of the BlueDaze website and Texas Oil and Gas Accountability Project community organizer Sharon Wilson, Susan Knoll, of Bartonville TX and Cora Bell of Corinth TX.
ShaleTest.org is a new national group that has a mission: “To provide lower income and compromised individuals with environmental testing of their drinking water, air and soil that might have been impacted by natural gas development. Our testing involves analyzing and measuring these elements for the presence of natural gas development fluids or associated chemicals and compounds. We also provide the public with educational awareness to the dangers associated with natural gas development.” Currently, ShaleTest has testing volunteers in Texas, Pennsylvania and Arkansas, and is recruiting in other states.
DISH mayor Calvin Tillman says that ” I have seen a real weakness in the availability of quality environmental testing across the United States to all families, especially in lower income areas. Therefore, citizens must rely on poorly equipped and understaffed state agencies to protect them, ShaleTest will level the playing field for these people”.
Co-founder Tim Ruggiero says “I have seen first hand what negative impacts natural gas development has had on our air, water, soil and even our property values. I have also seen the unwillingness to address these issues and the political game playing and foot dragging from our local and federal level politicians and protection agencies to assist any of us.
We cannot allow our quest for energy to outweigh our need for clean air and water. Mayor Tillman and I formed this non-profit group to do what the very same agencies that have sworn to protect us simply refuse to do.”
“Currently, it is up to citizens to prove harm rather than industry to prove lack of harm and it is now clear that state regulations do not protect public health.” said Sharon Wilson, Organizer for Texas Oil and Gas Accountability Project. “With enough data we can shift that burden back to those who profit and hold them accountable for their irresponsible operations.”
When: October 26, 2010, 12:30 PM
Where: Tandy Lecture Hall inside of the Fort Worth Library, located at 500 West 3rd Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102
For More Information
Contacts
* Calvin Tillman, Mayor, DISH, TX
(940) 453-3640, tillman4council@aol.com.
Tim Ruggiero
(917) 763-8901, trruggiero@gmail.com
Sharon Wilson
(940) 389-1622, sharson@gmail.com
Links:
www.shaletest.org
www.gaslandthemovie.com
Calvin Tillman
Mayor, DISH, TX
(940) 453-3640
“Those who say it can not be done, should get out of the way of those that are doing it” ~Calvin Tillman
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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I'm glad y'all are doing this, but why limit it to Shale victims? There are plenty of other folks getting poisoned by other kinds of industry in Texas. Why not just operate it as a tool for everyone who feels they need it?
The only limit is funding. If we have the funds, we will go where needed.
I fully expect we can 'branch out' if the funding is available. In order for this to be successful, we have to concentrate our efforts first on natural gas well development.
Sorry but I don't get it.
After our little neighborhood full of middle to lower income families raised $3700 and had our air, water, and soil tested we are no better off.
Our testing, which showed elevated levels of Benzene, Toulene, Carbon Disulfides, ect. was called "unscientific" and "politically motivated" so it seems like we are being tested to DEATH.
The only ones I see receiving any benefit of our privately funded testing is the companies performing the testing. Lord knows this neighborhood is no better off for spending our hard earned money.
No solution or acknowledgement of a well known and well documented problem seems to be forthcoming.
We should be pooling our money to hire lobbist in Austin to represent our interest just as oil and gas are doing.
Our communities and neighborhoods are fractured just like the gas wells.
Each little community is put up valient but uneffective fight against the destruction which is spreading across Texas like a wild fire in a dry hot summer.
Just my opinion for what it is worth.
What you say is absolutely true.
Great idea and generous ideals. Seems that you all should be able to request some of our million$ in tax money allocated to TCEQ, the State Health Dept., etc. for the purpose of protecting Texas' environment and her citizens since these hundreds of millions have not been used as intended.