LITTLE ROCK — Shale caucus unimpressive
Sixteen of our elected legislators have formed a caucus to protect the Fayetteville Shale play. They want to protect the economic impact of the affected counties. Really? What about protecting the citizens who elected them?
Yes, there are economic benefits, but what about the destructive impact on some citizens’ lives? Maybe they don’t care about folks who can no longer drink their well water or those who no longer have any water because of gas well activity near their homes. Not everyone can afford to tie into city water and there are some who are literally catching rain water to bathe in.
Maybe they don’t care about the toxic emissions from gas wells and injection wells that have sickened some, causing nosebleeds, headaches and rashes. They obviously don’t care enough to appropriate more money so the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality can hire more inspectors to investigate citizen complaints.
They say that the Fayetteville Shale is an economic engine that we must protect. That’s nice. There’s nothing in their prepared statement about protecting the environment or everyday citizens who live in the gas fields. Of course, we don’t have the deep pocketbooks the gas companies do.
Thanks for nothing, all 16 of you. We know your names and we will do all we can to see that you are not reelected.
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