Water Contamination!!! - Clinton, Arkansas Mayor says of drinking water "There is a contamination problem."

The Van Buren Democrat wrote about a Quorum Court hearing regarding a proposed injection well in Van Buren County where Clinton Mayor Roger Rorie courageously spoke up about the city’s water.

“Injection wells are bad, bad, bad,” he said. “You can do a resolution asking they not be here, asking that gas and oil not put them in northern Arkansas, in Van Buren County.”

He attributed rising water bills to the cost of treatment.

“Check the chemical cost of what it’s costing to treat drinking water now,” he said. “There is a contamination problem.”



The Van Buren Democrat Story:
http://www.vanburencountydem.com/articles/2010/04/23/news/nws02.txt

Proposed Injection Well in Damascus Arkansas Draws Fire From Large Number of Local Residents.

The Van Buren Democrat reports that Gravesville Cutoff resident Shannon Hensley spoke out against a proposed injection well at the Van Buren County Quorum Court this week. Over sixty residents are on record opposing this injection well. Hensley presented evidence from many states which proved the dangers from these injection wells. The so called "salt water" or "brine" is actually just a euphemism to mask the deadly cocktail of toxins these injection wells actually contain. The company which desires to drill the well is Poseidon which has been cited in White County for violations by the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission. Another unseemly connection is the fact is that Poseidon is headed by Mark Devine formerly of ADEQ. The question yet to be determined is...does it pay to have connections?

Read the story below:
http://www.vanburencountydem.com/articles/2010/04/23/news/nws02.txt

AOGC cites Poseidon:

http://www.aogc.state.ar.us/Hearing%20Orders/2009/October/774A-2009-10.pdf

Canadians Contend With Fracking Pollution...More Hexavalent Chromium Contamination...Erin Brockovitch Where Are You????

Canadians well water polluted with hexavalent chromium from fracking activity. See story:

http://www.greenmuze.com/climate/energy/2562-ugly-reality-of-fracking.html

Blood and Urine Tainted With Toxins from Gas Drilling Activity

Toxins associated with gas drilling pollution show up in blood and urine of DISH, Texas residents. This alarming discovery only adds to the mounting evidence of contamination and woeful disregard to human health and safety that has continued to tread mercilessly upon the liberties of these good people. We should all add our voices to cry out on their behalf; for in doing so, we cry out for ourselves as well. Read more:

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/localnews/stories/DRC_Dish_tests_0413.240e63b73.html

Erin Brockovitch on the trail of polluted wells in Midland Texas - some point to fracking giant Schlumberger as culprit

Midland Texas wells polluted with Hexavalent Chromium. When asked what difference she saw in this case and the one that catapulted her to fame, Erin commented that the Midland levels were far worse. Some point to a fracking giant as the culprit. See the full CBS report at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFF2axSauJY&feature=related

CNN reports tonight on Danger of Gas and Oil Wells... Two Unsuspecting Teens are Tragically Killed in Explosion

Two families are bereft of their beloved teen boys, when the boys wandered onto an unsecured well site near their home and were killed when the tank exploded. There was no lock or no warning signs highlighting the dangers of these sites. The article goes on to say that the families have created a video that attempts to educate kids about the dangers of gas wells called "No Place to Hang Out." This tragic event also exposes the underlying problem with gas and oil wells, in that they are not monitored for safety and they can be emitting poisonous, combustible fumes that can endanger humans and wildlife. Why have states trusted these companies to an honor system in so many areas involving human safety, when time and again, no honor has been shown.

See full story:
http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/04/11/gas.tank.safety/index.html?iref=allsearch

Woman Fears for Greers Ferry Lake

Below is an unedited letter sent to me from a resident in the Greers Ferry Lake area. The continued degradation of the lake because of gas drilling activity is raising real fears in this beloved community.


Three years ago I spoke with the senior geologist at ADEQ and asked her if drilling caused earthquakes and her answer was "Most definitely, yes." I also asked her what the fluid was the drilling companies were using and she said, "Diesel Mud." So, this knowledge has been around for a while, but the masses wouldn't listen. It is the same knowledge, only now it has a scientific validation with even admission from the gas industry itself. And, the powers that be still aren't hearing its message. The real crime here is that the gas/oil industry has always known about the carcinogenic affects and damage to the environment but didn't care as long as they got rich at the expense of the poor, elderly and uneducated.

Greers Ferry Lake was at one time being considered for an extraordinary resource status it was so pure. You could drink from it in the 70's. Now it is in the worst shape of its history. It supplies over 7,000 people with drinking water and it is being ruined (just ask the water company how many chemicals it has to add to the water each month now just to maintain). Wells are being put in without permits, and close to creeks that run directly into the lake. Are the powers that be just going to let the entire area be ruined and unfit for habitat? My guess is as long as they are profiting - and not having to live next to a well is, yes.

It is my opinion that the 8.8 magnitude Chilean earthquake that knocked the Earth 3 inches off its axis, and the earthquakes we have been having all over the planet are being caused by all the drilling. Drilling has increased significantly over the past several years, and I believe our planet is reacting to the results of it. Thing is, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to put these things together. With that being said, how do you get a species (human) to understand that greed is the root that is outweighing all sensibility when it comes to the environment, our Earth home and the survival of all forms of life? How do you get the ones with the power in Arkansas who have turned a deaf ear and a blind eye - those who have conflicted interests - to respond to the cries of the people for help? Did you know that there is a statement in the preamble of the Arkansas Constitution that guarantees every Arkansas citizen the peaceful enjoyment of her/his property? Is that not the right of every living being? Try living next to a rig and having to wear earplugs to bed and close the house up because of the pollution and noise. Try living in fear for the health of your family. Is that peaceful enjoyment of one's property? If thousands of people, not hundreds, but masses, gathered on the courthouse steps in an effort to preserve the natural state and its people's right to a healthy, peaceful way of life for future generations, perhaps the politicians would finally hear the voice of the people. Where are these thousands of people who would actually participate?

My gratitude goes to the people who are continuing the effort - and educating the public, especially Andy Cheshire who is just a remarkable person. I honor and respect him for his continuing work on this issue. Great job, Andy

Cheyenne MS

Michigan Woman's Sad Plight

This sad story was passed on to me today and illustrates gas and oil's arrogant disregard toward human health and safety. I truly believe this victim's voice will lend itself to the rising tide of outrage against such injustice.

Hello,
When I heard of a Victim's network if I could have I would have jumped with glee.
I am a victim of the oil and gas industry, mainly the chemical hydrogen sulfide or H2S or the rotten egg smell.
Here's my story and I hope that it will help someone else. I live in Upper Northern Michigan, or Cheboygan. I am now 52 years old and a mother. In 2004 our little town of Lewiston (where I had lived for 22 years) was the home of 3 150,00 barrel crude oil or liquified natural gas tanks (owned by MarkWest) and with a it being pumped into the Enbridge pipeline after being transported and offloaded by trucks owned by Liquid Transport (since bought out). They hauled in loads of sour crude daily and one day (of many) there was an alleged illegal release of hydrogen sulfide. Lewiston was the victim even though people didn't realize it. Lewiston was downwind almost every day and we lived about 1/4 mile straight downwind from the facility. I became ill that day thus starting a nightmare I may live until I die.
I couldn't eat, stand, think, only my right leg was swollen. My well controlled asthma had suddenly taken a turn for the worse and still fight off bronchitis and pneumonia as often as twice a month. My immune system was almost wiped out. I couldn't urinate unless I pressed on my belly to see if I had to. My body was shutting down and after a few months of this my doctors (I have letters which the EPA also has) said I had to leave Lewiston and preferably the State or I would die. My husband was overwhelmed as he was affected, it changed his personality and his asthma became worse. My son suddenly developed atrial fibrillation and had to stop his heart twice. My daughter now has a skin rash that flares up. Neither children recognize the correlation but I do. I have seen too much not to.
We (there was 4 of us) did tons of research and brought the Mark West Company out from Denver because they were worried what we had found. Nothing at that time but we had bought a share of stock from each of the 3 companies at that certain facility and contacted their main shareholders. We eventually found, on a holiday weekend, that they were trying to replace a tank and fortunately a DEQ officer happened to be around and found that they were indeed bringing loads of 75,000 parts per million of hydrogen sulfide when they were only allowed to bring in loads of 4 ppm.
Lewiston is now an oil and gas town with many sick people. We couldn't find an attorney anywhere in the country to take our case thus losing our statue of limitations. I lost everything,( eventually my husband and family) sold my house and just kept moving upwind from the wells, 100's of them going in on the Niagarian reef and Antrim shale that Lewiston sat on top of.
My main point is that this exposure has made me chemically hypersensitive. The local paper mill, which we are rarely downwind from, caught fire yesterday. I am now married to a wonderful man who tries to deal with all my health issues.
He stepped out of house yesterday, smelled the toxins, grabbed my mask and told me to put it on. It was too late though, it comes through the walls. I couldn't move I was in such pain and all my joints swelled, headache, worsening of asthma and just wanted to die.
Very few can understand what the gas and oil industry is doing to people. I fought them for 4 years, even after moving away, but now I educate. Some days I can hardly move, not knowing what chemical came my way, but go on.
I have to carry a nebulizer with me wherever I go, a special filtering mask and pray I have a good day. There's my story with so much more to tell but I hope that this helps someone and you use it. I have become permanently disabled and had a "stroke" also from this and know the feeling of hopelessness.
Jaime (Long) Chimner
Cheboygan, Michigan
Feel free to edit and use it to help someone else

Scientific American Article about Dangers of Gas Drilling

Scientific American reports on the current dangers of hydraulic fracturing and the now mounting findings of tainted water and air. This article details the herculean struggle by the small town of DISH, Texas to test air at tremendous cost which led to the discovery of off-the-charts levels of carcinogens in their air. This and other grassroots testing is leading the way to further scrutiny by the EPA in a study of the hydraulic fracturing practice which is slated to be completed by 2012.

The link is below to March 20, 2010 Scientific American article:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=shale-gas-and-hydraulic-fracturing

GASLAND PREMIERES ON HBO June 21

GASLAND by Josh Fox and assisted by famed Debra Winger is an award winning documentary which chronicles the rapacious practices of hydrofracturing and gas drilling. GASLAND premiers on HBO June 21.

For more information:

http://www.gaslandthemovie.com/