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Again, benzene levels high in DISH. Stunning info in Barnett Shale water contamination

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Benzene was measured at the highest levels since TCEQ installed the permanent monitor that doesn’t quite work right in DISH. Mayor Tillman is not a happy camper. He is fed up industry attacks on GASLAND (and me) in their attempt to deflect their own criminal behavior. Tillman points out how industry would rather spend millions in PR campaign to sway the Oscars but won’t spend a few thousand to keep from harming people’s health.

For example we are monitoring the pollution in DISH...monitoring. The State of Texas has spent $250,000.00 on a permanent air monitor in DISH, that clearly shows that whatever is happening at the compressor site is not staying at the compressor site. However, after a year and half on the job, the benzene level at the monitor was the highest ever recorded on February 12, 2011 at 8:00 AM, and by no means do I think that the monitor reading was anywhere near accurate, most likely well below what was actually present in the area. However, they will do nothing about this, it has been well over a year, and I am not sure how much better off we are for it.

I thought this nugget from Tillman’s blog post was stunning considering the industry continues to claim hydraulic fracturing has never contaminated any water:

Another clear example is the private well water in DISH that was contaminated with drilling mud. [VIDEO] The mud did not show up in the water until the gas drilling was started close to the home, it tested positive for all of the known chemicals in drilling mud, the Railroad Commission documents show a substantial loss of drilling mud during drilling, and guess what? The Railroad Commission found that this could not possibly have been caused by drilling…there are your tax dollars at work. Therefore, it is clear that our state organizations are not or will not protect private citizens. They are either not smart enough, do not have the experience, or are mandated to keep their head in the sand.

To quote Dr. Al, “stunning!”

Drill for gas, pollute water. There is a FACT for you EID.

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.

Comments

  1. scubawithdogs says

    It does not seem like any ground has been gained in the last 2 years.
    I feel like a hamster on a wheel and the ride won't be over until I can't breath any longer.

  2. David says

    Now Sharon lets be fair TCEQ is just as bad. I can think of 3 problems TCEQ had with facts:
    #1 the under reporting of Benzene in Fort Worth. #2 the under reporting of radiation in the water (Houston) #3 The Nuclear waste dump in "far" west Texas and TCEQ team findings of NOT suitable, but passes anyway! Team quits.

  3. Anonymous says

    Chesapeake has a facility over there, right? Weren't they the ones that threatened Mayor Tillman? I seem to remember something about that. They are the biggest thugs of all.

  5. Anonymous says

    I am so tired of all the Natural Gas Is Grand commercials. The one I just saw on MSNBC touted all the jobs industry provides and how they keep the lights on when the wind farm has a bad day, showing a clip of a barely turning wind turbine. It was a sunny day, but they didn't show any solar panels soaking up the sunshine. If the energy industry had taken all the money they've spent on propaganda the last 30 years and instead invested it in development of alternative energies, as Jimmy Carter advised when he was President, industry and everyone else would be in much better shape now.

  6. Anonymous says

    Lon Burnam and Wendy Davis need to call a hearing for testimony from the industry about all the epic fails that have happened since the rolling blackouts.

    Clearly, there have been massive releases all over the shale, and continue to be, as they clean up from that mess.

    This needs to include public health data.