Who do you call when there is an emergency situation at a Barnett Shale gas facility? Have you ever noticed there are no emergency numbers? The first responders can’t help unless the facility blows up. Who do you call when there is a massive release and you are unable to breathe?
There was a massive release at the Williams Gas Processing Plant in Argyle a few nights ago. The neighbors had no one to call and no way to get relief from the cloying odors that were making them sick and causing muscle pain.
I noticed, when I did the analysis of TCEQ’s response to Barnett Shale odor complaints that quite a few people have to leave their homes regularly and stay in a hotel or with neighbors. That’s pathetic.
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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Sharon,
Glad you brought this to people's attention. This is what happens when a corporation comes into a community…and guess what?…you are on your own. Don't expect help…We have had these same issues with CAFO's. I've even called 911 …(the police) dizzy INSIDE my home, from toxic gases to come out and test the air, at night, when all the agencies are closed…and it doesn't matter if the state agencies are open, BTW, no one comes. We, as a community, have taken it upon ourselves to start air monitoring and will release the results to the press. Sad that a corporations bottom line trumps public health.
Sharon, thank you for all your work. It is making a difference.
Here is a response to my copying Mr Hofmeister on the health concerns. he as President of Shell Oil and now heads a group called Citizens For Affordable Energy……basicly he says…"get out of harms way"
From: John Hofmeister
Date: Sun, Jan 02, 2011 5:39 pm
Dear Kim,
This information is distressing to say the least.
My comments in the previous email were predicated on the assumption that there was distance and dilution between the well site and drilling and the potentially impacted local residents.
If the distance is diminished and the impact of the drilling immediate, the risks that I referred to are more impactful and proximate. In other words there is neither time nor space for the winds or atmosphere to dissipate the effluents that emerge from the process of drilling.
Under such circumstances my advice would be get as far from the source of the irritation and/or pollution as possible.
Just like the relationship between refineries and petrochemical plants on the surface, the greater the distance from the source of potential pollution, the better the local population will be, provided that they can experience relief from dilution and prevailing winds.
If the winds are directly affecting the local population, as you describe in the attached note, it would be important to get away from the sources of such pollution and/or irritation.
There are legal remedies which take time. There is the practical remedy of simply getting out of the way.
I realize this puts the burden on you. In the immediate issues of the situation, I don’t know any other short term remedy other than getting out of the way.
I’m sorry that this puts the immediate burden on you.
The issues and questions around licensing and permitting are important in the way forward. The rules may well be set by authorities who are disconnected to the issues that you face locally. It would be essential to keep such officials informed of what you are experiencing so that they can make informed judgments.
Best regards,
John