Get the Frack Out Of Here! - Destroying The Water Supply

Best government money can buy. It is surprising just how cheap the cost to purchase it.

Kavika. Did you know the Sierra Club took millions from the Gas Industry?

Some Native Alaskan news you may find interesting.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/2012/02/alaska-natives-ask-epa-stop-threatening-their-economy/253521

Kavika

the problem is that the EPA unfortunately doesn't have the authority. That was something that Karl Rove was very proud of actually, even going so far as pronouncing that we would never have to worry about the EPA getting in the middle of the fracking industry.

Is it sad, completely. Is it shocking? hell no. And all of this fracking is pretty much 'needed' because as a society we refuse to lower our consumption, which makes the tar sands needed (yes it does get back tot he tar sands). The tar sands is a big part of this because it is EXTREMELY intensive in the use of natural gas to create the heat (obviously along with water) that steams the oil out of the bitumin.

But until we as a society decide to live up to the reality of the situation, it just isn't going to change, as unfortunate as that is.

." Deep-pocketed individuals and companies like Gordon Moore (Intel), Tiffany Company Foundation and Brainerd Foundation (a software fortune) have given millions to anti-development Big Green groups like Natural Resources Defense Council, Trout Unlimited and EarthWorks

My question is, instead of spending millions of dollars on feel good campaigns to save whatever the Hell they campaign for, in this case government intervention against the native people through the phony environmental groups, why not contribute that money to the natives they want to deprive, and help THEM to develop a prosperous existence, instead of the lawyers they are providing a prosperous existence for?

This administration is loaded with them.

I just picked 2 as a number out of my head, but even today at 3.50-4.00 people are still whining and complaining.

Well, when you remember that gas was once $.25/gallon it helps one to feel that one is being gouged every time. And those record profits of billions of dollars don't help.

and again, the core of the problem is that people consume too much in the way of oil products. So having gas priced as low as it is, makes it even less likely that people will lower their consumption. The way to lower consumption is to INCREASE the price, not lower it.

I wonder how much we could lower our consumption naturally if gas was priced at 8 dollars a gallon, increased gradually over several years of course.

The administration doesn't impart its influence immediately when the president happens to change. To think that it does is extremely unrealistic. Even with my company, the EPA isn't around to watch everything that we do, that is why I take the attitude that while the EPA is there as a check and a balance, it is STILL up to me (well I look at me as the owner even though there are 3 of us) to ensure that we follow all the regulations that we are obligated to follow, and if we don't we are liable.

I do realize that many other companies don't take that philosophy, but to be honest, I am not in it just for the money, if I was, the last thing I would get into is manufacturing, I would just sit and trade on the exchange (which is something I fight against a lot, but the reason why I fight against it alot is specifically because to me there is more to business than just making money).

I KNOW that the government can't be there at every turn, so I do take the attitude that it isn't just up to the EPA, but it is up to us to make sure we do the right thing.

screminmimi,

it isn't that the chemicals are proprietary that is the problem, it is that they are using that the chemicals are proprietary as an excuse to not submit the chemicals for testing, both environmental and health related.

Jonathan -

I know that. Whatever the wording or phrasing for the excuse, that barrier needs to be removed. The only reason it hasn't been removed already is because congress already knows the truth, knows the rest of us do as well, but is playing word games to keep from having that truth in all its absolute unremitting glory raise the full ire of the public.

by and large, the public doesn't care though. They just want their 2 dollar a gallon gasoline, and any attempt to keep our lives copacetic is met with derision that we are only hindering things and increasing the price of gas for their SUV's.

Yes I may sound pessimistic, but that is unfortunately what I see. It isn't just the companies that are in on the deal, but the PEOPLE are just as much a part of the problem as are the oil companies. Why should I care of some farmers in PA now can't drink their water because of fracking, hell I don't live there, and I got my 2 dollar gallon of gas and that is the only thing that is important to me. (no, that ISN'T me, because I support an increase in gas prices to about 8 dollars, but that is the general attitude that we have to face).

I agree the public doesn't care... as long as it isn't in THEIR back yard. But it will be.

They will continue to ignore the environmental needs of the people until activists start blowing up construction sites here in the U.S. And it will happen. It's right around the corner.

and my point is that change needs to come from the people, not the companies, the companies are just doing what the people want.

the companies are just doing what the people want.

It doesn't excuse them from irresponsibility. And when they lie and obfuscate to cover up what they know is wrong, it makes them more than criminals... it makes them evil.

it makes them evil.

What Mimi said!

But the simple fact of what I wrote explains why the EPA doesn't care. The Oil and Gas industry created the banks that run our country. The EPA comes in... sees the wells, which they all know create this problem and just say it is fine, or don't follow up on the results. It really is simple... The EPA knows that as soon as they say something is wrong, the Oil and Gas industry will fire off a few lobbyists to get whomever at the EPA that stepped out of line onto the black list and permanent unemployment.

Cheney and the Bush's (never forget who Bush Senior is) but their people in all the right places. They own it all now and control it all. People no longer matter in this country. I wasn't kidding when I said to get and remember. Fracking is going to be everywhere soon and we will all be dying of that contamination. The Greater Delaware River basin is about to lose 60% of it's population in the next 40 years as they destroy the largest fresh water reservoir in the world.

"Screw your water! Where's my check?"

P.S. - Brian's right - it's been exempted from regulation. Here in NY it's being studied...not optimistic that it will turn out good for the water supply.

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FoolsGladly

IMO if you have to point fingers and we all love too, I would point the finger at the Governors of Wyoming. I have no idea how many maybe involved but the complaints started 6yrs ago according to the article, and the gas industry was in business before that.

Pretty much because our politicians are not part of the people. To be elected to office you must be a part of the cool kids club and those cool kids are all very wealthy. I was going to run for congress in my district just for kicks. I couldn't get on the ballot because I needed party sponsorship and was told FLAT out by the state of PA that if I didn't have 2 million dollars lined up, I was wasting my time.

My answer was... But the job only pays $340,000 in the 2 years I would be there... Why would I pay more money than I would make... To which I got dead space in return.

the job only pays $340,000 in the 2 years I would be there

Yeah but if you vote the way the corporations want you to the money will follow.

I agree about politicians being part of the cool kids club, but we forget that they wouldn't be elected if we didn't vote for them! Its kinda like the gas and oil companys, they are only in business because we buy the products! The same thing with Monsanto.

What if they held an election and no one voted for these people. Let them run their expensive campaigns and make their promises . We don't have to give them the votes.

Wyoming is one of the richest energy states in the union but we use more energy based on population ( 568,158 ) than other states and that is because the energy is used to produce the energy! Then its exported out of the state. Its not the actual population that is using it. Most mineral rights are owned by the state and not the people, but its the people who are paying the price for all this exported energy with their health. Wyoming is a Republican state to the 10X! Hard to get heard here.

Not much is said about the other hazard from fracking, earthquakes. I live 70 miles from Yellowstone which sits on top of an enormous super volcano just waiting for a reason to go off, but that doesn't even get a passing thought by the industry.

Look at what the injection wells are doing in Ohio and the year before Arkansas stopped fracking because of earthquakes. I just read that there are more than 150,000 injection wells in the US and 40,000 of them are waste fluid disposal wells for the gas and oil industry! Where are they and are they leaking??? Who is drinking that water??

Sorry to ramble on, this subject really puts a burr under my saddle!

Me, too!

I'm very glad to see that you are tackling this issue-- I've been working on an article for months, and the illustrations have been killers-- there are just too many factors involved. Like fractures/lineaments. Unknown faults. Improperly abandoned oil and gas wells from the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s.

Here in KY, it was perfectly all right to close an old oil and gas well by sticking a pine tree down the well. And there are thousands of wells like that. When the try to frack those formations, guess where the fluid will go?

If I hear one more time, "The wells are 15,000' deep", I think I'll scream. NO they're not. They are 1500-2500' deep and, arranged like the legs of a spider, 12,500' to 13,500' long. What bugs me is that you can be over 2 miles away from the wellhead, but the fracking is taking place below YOUR feet.

Sigh...

Way to go Dowser, I have a sneaking suspicion that if people knew half as much as you do about this, we would not be in this position wondering what to do with the polluted water reservoirs.

I sent a FR :o)

Lebowsky, I can't imagine that we haven't been friends before now-- I accepted gratefully and gladly. Thank you so very much for your request!

I know enough about water, which is my career, to be scared to death of this. People don't realize that once the water is contaminated, there IS no cleaning it up. You can live without oil and gas, but you can't live without water...

I can't write one article about this-- to truly convey the Big Picture, will take about 5 articles... And, I am biased towards drinking water. I have a huge file at work about it, and all I can say is that we will live to regret this. We DON'T know what we're doing. We DON'T know exactly what is down there. To support fracking is madness...

Kavika, it needs background information... That's the hard part.

Thanks Dowser :o)

Loved your column by the way ♥

Thanks so much! I've been sickly for the past couple of days and haven't posted anything lately... I need to get busy!

To support fracking is madness...

And who supports it? Our elected officials and greedy corporations - evil madmen all!

Profits today that will kill us in the future... :-)

Glad you pointed that out Pat. The oil & gas companies have been making record profits for the last few years and have more than enough money to saturate the airwaves with promotional advertising in the form of blatant propaganda/misinformation on the drill baby drill platform.

I am seeing an awful lot of that here in FL. The sad fact is that if people hear it enough, most start to believe it. This is not unlike the Super Pac campaign ads.

This is the daily ritual on am radio.

People do believe it because the people they are listening to are the locals (small community, the Realtor, the motivational speaker, the tp leader etc) that they have known forever. They believe that because they know these people that they speak the truth.

They pound the pipeline, they pound fracking, they pound coal day after day, they slam wind, they slam hydro they slam green......The motto is "if we say it enough people will believe it"

As far as super pacs, The TP leader here has admitted on air that it is Koch bros/AFP funded. That being said it makes it EVEN more suspicious that we are in the process of getting intentionally screwed. And people are still stupid.

Very sad state of affairs American is currently experiencing. Human life does not seem to have the value of the all mighty "dollar". Greed will be our ultimate demise, most unfortunately. Excellent article. Keep 'em commin...

If that is the case, you better get it tested and start screaming You're Killing Me at your local government, newspapers, Congressmen, and anybody else that will listen or just hear you.

Please, buy bottled water that has a municipality as a source of supply for your drinking water. I don't know where you live, but many states have laws that if your drinking water supply is compromised, the person who destroyed it has to supply you with another supply.

The tests that need to be run will cost at least $2000, but perhaps your state can pick up the tab, if you report it.

If they won't you can have some tests run at UL, Universal Laboratories. They run the tests for the EPA and will not only send you sample bottles, but will also tell you how to collect the samples from your well. Many of them may need to be refrigerated and sent within 24 hours on ice.

You should likely test for BTEX, benzene, ethylene, toluene, and xylene... Ask them what other constituents you should test for and they will help you. I can't think of the name of the fellow that I've dealt with there, but UL is the one that certifies all the electrical appliances, etc.

Please, Kyle, don't drink that water until you know it is safe. Contact your state Division of Water for help-- they may be able to do more than you can, depending, again, what state you're in...

If I can be of any help, let me know. Good Luck!

Thanks Dowser, but we have been drinking it (filtered) for about 4 or 5 years now, so any damage, I'm afraid, is already done.

I tried reporting it to the state, and I was told that I had to go through the Texas Railroad Commission to do it.

They told me that I would have to pay for any testing out of my own pocket, then forward the results to them.

About a week later, there were commercials all over the radio stations assuring us that our groundwater was safe. Yeah, right.

On a side note, some friends of ours had an (unwanted) gas well about 200 yards off of their property.

While CHESAPEAKE ENERGY was drilling the well, the whole area stunk like @!$%# mixed with diesel fuel. Anyway, they lost 26 goats in one day. The goats just dropped dead.

When they tried to complain, they were told that they would have to prove that each goat died as a result of the drilling before anything could be done, and that they would have to pay for any testing out of their own pockets.

Government bureaucracy at work. (If you're not rich, you have no voice.)

Texas. yeah...

The goats very likely died of methane, which leaks significantly during the process. They probably suffocated, which is horrible, but better than being burned alive, I guess.

One of the things about the VOCs that may be in your water, the toxicity depends on the dose, and the length of time of the dose, so if you start drinking bottled water now, you may be ok. Let me look into Texas and see if I can find out anything.

Take care-- I'm truly worried about you!

Texas Dept. of Environmental Management -- How To Make a Complaint

Water Section of the Dept. of Environmental Management -- It looks like your physician can request water quality testing of your well. HERE is the pdf file that tells you about it.

Here is the site for the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee-- they may be able to help, too.

You may be able to find a geologist that will help you, or they can refer you to a geologist that could offer better advice than I can from KY-- Here is the listing of the Board of Registration for Geologists in Texas. They should have a base of geologists that are licensed professionals that may be able to offer you advice and help. Ask for a hydrogeologist, who specializes in water. :-)

Make a complaint, at least. If there have been a lot of complaints in your immediate area, that will be noted. Get your neighbors in on it, too, if you can.

And please, switch to bottled water to drink if you can. Just make sure that the source is from a municipal supply. :-)

the very best of luck to you!

if 26 goats die in one day, then why wouldn't the Department of Agriculture get involved?

They might have, had it been reported to them. But, since it happened a while back, it is doubtful that evidence is available to pinpoint the exact cause. :-)

You're very welcome! :-) My pleasure!

Thanks Dowser! You are a wonderful Viner!

Sorry for the double post... I stepped in "Bubblegum" again.

Those darn bubblegum errors-- I get them too! Everybody does... Hopefully, with the New Newsvine coming out, that problem will be fixed, as well!

bubblegum is just an error that says, we timed out so we don't know how much of the submit process was completed. It could be anything, including a network error.

What I do now is just cut/copy my message, refresh the screen to see if it went through, then if it went through move on, if it didn't past my comment into a new one.

Well, a great way to cope! Thanks!

and damn it, I need to be spanked, that last bit should be

if it didn't, paste my comment text into a new comment. :P

It sure feels that way sometimes...

She is currently in LeRoy, NY working on the issue that has the girls twitching.

I am sure that this, no doubt, pisses her off to no extent...

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/erin-brockovich-launches-investigation-tic-illness-affecting-ny/story?id=15456672

Pat from Montana - Brockovich is in Leroy, I didn't know that. My town borders on Leroy. Can hardy wait to see what she finds.

mf Is there fracking near there? Keep in mind that fracking goes down then horizontal for miles.....There is a possibility that there was a fracking fluid leak near the school. Although no one can get close enough...

http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=16777

sorry to derail Kavika.

Pat - Not the fracking your thinking of (horizontal) but there is vertical fracking. Leroy gets its water from a surface reservoir right in the middle of its town. I'm not sure what industries may be near there.

There are wetlands close to the high school so maybe they've become contaminated somehow.

yea they got the dirt to build up the wetlands for the school from near the spill site (possible contamination from the start). There are several gas wells on school property as well. It is just a big dirty mess. The aerial shows 2 well sites with dead trees and a gross yellowish patch . one near the football field and the other near the baseball field. that is why the school (and whoever else) is stopping people from taking independent testing.

one near the football field and the other near the baseball field

That's great (not). Can't tell you how many times my kids played football and baseball on those fields.

I contacted her a few months ago about my friend in Pavillion. Got a short thank you email and she said she would get back to me. Havn't heard any thing yet. We need to clone her!

Were those fields, perhaps, brownfields? Contaminated sites that are turned into infrequent use facilities, like ball fields?

Ms Brokovich is my hero!

I am looking for the clip I watched the other night Dowser, it gave a very good aerial view of the baseball diamond and football field in relation to the wells and dead areas near them.

It might take a while but I will find it.

http://drdrew.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/02/controversy-over-le-roy-school-district-gas-wells/

If that isn't the right one it is one of those. sorry not really tech savvy. towards the middle of the clip.

Wow, Pat-- Thanks!

Oh my gosh. What idiots to drill the well next to a school, and then hydrofrack it. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the chemicals are causing the problem. A lot of the stuff they use in hydrofracking are listed as causing neurological disorders.

this is such a shame!