Have you been smelling a strange bad odor when you open your windows lately.

Have you been smelling a strange and bad odor when you open your windows lately? I work on computers in my home and the heat they generate makes me keep my windows open for most of the year to let that heat out. When it's not too hot or too cold for that to help that is... And I'm smelling Something like exhaust fumes from a car, every day all day, lately. Have your eyes been burning and blurry. Have your Allergy's been really bad lately, with constant sneezing and your throat and eyes burning allot. Have you been feeling like your going to Pass out, Dizzy and Weak at times without any reason? Stomach upset more than usual? Do you live near a Natural Gas or Oil Well? I have and and do live near a band new Natural Gas Well. So, I've been doing some research lately. The things I'm finding are very disturbing!

Texas OGAP

About the Texas Oil Gas Accountability Project

Aruba Petroleum drill rig outside Tim & Christine
Ruggiero's kitchen window in Wise County, Texas

Texas OGAP is a campaign of EARTHWORKS. Comprised of local citizen activists, and staff and board members of EARTHWORKS, our goal is to address needed oil and gas policy reforms in Texas on the state and local level.
http://earthworksaction.org/Texas_OGAP.cfm

Public Health and Toxics

O&G Pollution Fact Sheet

There are a variety of chemicals used during the drilling and production phases of oil and gas; and different types of wastes are produced throughout the development process.

The purpose of the Oil & Gas Accountability Project's Public Health and Toxics Program  is to help communities and citizens better understand and protect themselves from the health and environmental impacts associated with toxic oil and gas chemicals and wastes. 

Public Health and Toxics Issues

• HYDRAULIC FRACTURING.  This often involves the injection of known toxic chemicals into or close to drinking water supplies
• CHEMICAL DISCLOSURE.  Increasingly, landowners and residents of oil and gas field communities are reporting health impacts that they believe are linked to environmental toxics associated with the oil and gas development activities in their area.  These reports include incidents of:  asthma, respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, autoimmune diseases, liver failure, cancer and other ailments such as headaches, nausea, and sleeplessness.
• PITS.  Contamination of groundwater, soil and air may result from the storage and disposal of oil and gas wastes in unlined and lined pits. 
• OIL AND GAS POLLUTION. There are many chemicals used and waste produced throughout the various stages of oil and gas development. These chemicals and wastes can contaminate air, water and soil.
• AIR POLLUTION. Oil and gas development contributes to air pollution problems such as increased low-level ozone (smog), toxic levels of hydrogen sulfide, and localized zones of airborne hydrocarbons like VOCs and PAHs.
• HYDROGEN SULFIDE. This is a particularly toxic gas that is sometimes associated with oil and gas development. Citizens from many states and Alberta, Canada have experienced health problems from exposure to this gas.
• HEALTH IMPACTS.  More and more, people are speaking up about health problems that seem to be related to oil and gas pollution.
• NOISE.  More than merely annoying, the noise from oil and gas can affect people's health and drive them from their homes.
• OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY EXEMPTIONS.  The oil and gas industry enjoys exemptions from some of the major federal pollution laws, such as the Safe Drinking Water Act.
• PATHWAYS AND SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION.  There are a number of ways that contaminants from oil and gas operations can enter the environment..
• 2005 People's Oil and Gas Summit - Toxics in Our Communities drew together people from across North America to talk about public health and toxics issues related to oil and gas development. 

 http://earthworksaction.org/Health%20and%20Toxics.cfm

Oil and Gas Air Pollution

Air contaminants are emitted from a variety of sources throughout the oil and gas development process. If you think oil and gas production is good for air quality, THINK AGAIN.

The following chart summarizes the major air pollutants released during oil and gas development and the major sources of emissions.  Click on each category to read details about the pollutant or the source activity. 

	Fugitive Emissions	Dehydration	Vehicles	Flaring	Engines	Pits	Venting
Particulate Matter		x	x		x
Dust		x	x
Hydrogen Sulfide	x			x			x
Ozone	o	o	o		o
Carbon Monoxide			x	x	x
Nitrogen Oxides			x	x	x
Sulfur Dioxide			x	x	x
VOCs	x	x		x	x	x	x
BTEX	x	x		x	x	x	x
PAHs				x
Methane	x	x				x	x

• 'x' means that a pollutant is emitted as a direct result of the particular activity
• 'o' means that the pollutant is generated in a secondary reaction associated with the particular oil and gas development activity. 
• http://earthworksaction.org/oilgasairpollution.cfm

A struggle with toxics in the Barnett Shale -- the story of Megan Collins

The Collins clan. Until recently, of DISH,TX.A house in the country
I had always hoped for a nice, quiet, country setting where we could raise our children. Little did I know it would be the cause of unexplained illnesses and heartache.

Skipping on down in her story...

The worst neighbors ever
I started noticing issues with what I thought were allergies: watery eyes, itchy throat, and sneezing were a daily problem. Then in late 2006 I noticed that I was having trouble with my balance, sometimes staggering around and unable to stand with my feet together. My "allergy" and sinus issues were also increasing, so I just thought it was an equilibrium problem.
http://earthworksaction.org/cv_DISHTX_collins.cfm


When filmmaker Josh Fox discovers that Natural Gas drilling is coming to his area—
the Catskillls/Poconos region of Upstate New York and Pennsylvania, he sets off on a 24 state journey to uncover the deep consequences of the United States’ natural gas drilling boom. What he uncovers is truly shocking—water that can be lit on fire right out of the sink, chronically ill residents of drilling areas from disparate locations in the US all with the same mysterious symptoms, huge pools of toxic waste that kill cattle and vegetation well blowouts and huge gas explosions consistently covered up by state and federal regulatory agencies. These are just a few of the many absurd and astonishing revelations of a new country called GASLAND.

CAN YOU DO THIS WITH YOUR TAP WATER? from JOSHFOX on Vimeo.

I did try the thing in the video above with my water. And thank God! It didn't work! So, at least I can still drink my water...

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Barnett ShaleTown Hall Meeting: Corrections and unanswered questions

The Barnett Shale Town Hall meeting last Thursday evening was advertised as an opportunity for representatives from state agencies to "educate" residents of Denton on permitting processes, various planned drilling projects and facilities.

Several Videos here and some good info...
http://txsharon.blogspot.com/2010_01_01_archive.html

Oil Gas Accountability Texas

Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS: January 2010

GASLAND

EARTHWORKS - Publications

EARTHWORKS - Texas OGAP

EARTHWORKS - DISH, Texas

Texas Oil Gas Accountability - Google Search

EARTHWORKS - Texas OGAP

EARTHWORKS - Public Health and Toxics

EARTHWORKS - Oil and Gas Air Pollution

EARTHWORKS - Air Contaminants

Don