Dear Legislator/Governor Beebe:
Shale gas production has been heralded as a boon to our economy and sanitized images of its merits assault us through daily television PR spots. Despite the public relations message, another darker reality lies just beneath the surface. Some of the abuses include:
■Halliburton Loophole – Toxic chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing (high pressure injection of water, sand and toxic chemicals into the shale formation to release gas ) kept secret as trade secrets and the entire process was exempt from the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and the Superfund Laws. There are now nearly a thousand known fracking chemicals and perhaps more in existence. Some experts believe these chemicals can migrate into fresh water zones through naturally occurring fractures or earthquake induced fractures. Industry also concedes cement casing failure is another source of these toxic chemicals migrating into fresh water aquifers. Not knowing what was put down each gas well makes testing expensive and akin to hitting the lottery. Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission’s Rule B-19’s so called disclosure still perpetuates this “trade-secret” loophole.
■Injection wells – Injecting toxic fluid laced with fracking chemicals, heavy metals and radioactive NORMS into rock formations deep within the earth. Some residents have reported toxic fumes emanating from these installations that have caused associated illness. These injection wells also have been scientifically linked to earthquakes. A newly found fault in Greenbrier/Guy has the potential to deliver a 6.0 earthquake. This is an unacceptable risk to property and human life.
■Land Farms and First Land Application – Dumping of toxic flow back fluid onto land. Evaporation occurs to pollute air and migration into fresh water sources is a great risk. The New Year’s Fishkill on the Arkansas River was approximately two miles from a land farm.
■Illegal dumping – The cost of legally disposing of waste is high; perhaps encouraging illegal dumping into our highways and waterways. Many reports of illegal dumping have surfaced.
■Compressor Stations – These are used to move gas along pipelines. They emit high levels of low frequency noise 24/7 which are known to cause ill health effects. Attached to compressor stations are dehydration units which spew toxins into the air 24/7.
■Venting of Gas Wells – When a gas well is near completion the gas companies vent the gas and toxins into the air to “purify” the well. They fail to inform residents of this process and expose people to dangerous toxins. After that is completed gas wells continually emit toxic gas from condensate tanks 24/7.
■Dangerous Accidents - Fracking fluid spills, leaking poisonous gas, explosions of gas wells, pipelines and water wells all have occurred in Arkansas. Little or no training in dealing with these accidents have been provided to local fire and emergency personnel.
■Road Destruction – Highways and roads in Arkansas are crumbling because of the dense traffic of heavy gas trucks. The existing severance tax has failed to meet the cost of the estimated repairs.
■Land Scarring and Deforestation - The once beautiful Ozarks are being scarred with hideous well sites. Deforestation is occurring and sediment ends up destroying once pristine water quality in streams and lakes.
■Greers Ferry Lake and Brewer Lake – Brewer Lake provides fresh water to thousands in Conway and Greers Ferry Lake provides water to tens of thousands in North Central Arkansas. It is unimaginable that anyone would consider drilling and fracking near these critical water sources, yet at this moment drilling and fracking is being conducted near these lakes. To add to the outrage, Chesapeake has been conducting seismic testing on Greers Ferry Lake and further reports surface that Brewer Lake is also at risk of hydraulic fracturing occurring below its surface. We can’t accept risk to these water sources!!
■Industry/Regulators – State regulators are perceived as being facilitators of the shale gas industry. A pattern of lack of enforcement and testing has been noted by many. The AOGC is staffed primarily with gas industry operatives. ADEQ records contain files of complaints that lack follow-up and real testing. Citizen’s complaints often go unanswered on a timely basis. When violations do occur, citizens in affected areas are not informed properly.
Many other egregious practices could be mentioned, but still many people feel shale gas production could be improved through loop systems to capture emissions, full disclosure of chemicals and the use of only non-toxic chemicals, electric compressor stations and properly funded repair of the roads. While it is some improvement is possible, one glaring problem exists: They can’t do this safely! The shale gas industry has conceded that cement casing failures in gas wells can be a cause of water contamination. Currently, cement casings are tested at a PSI (pounds per square inch) much lower than the PSI used in fracking. Because of this, casings could easily fail during hydraulic fracturing. In addition, injection wells may have activated an ancient fault with the estimated potential of a 6.0 earthquake. USGS has no idea how the fragile cement casings fare in an earthquake. We have over 10,000 gas wells in Arkansas and over 4,000 in the Fayetteville Shale Play. No one is required to test these after earthquakes. Cement casing failure could cause our aquifer to be contaminated with these highly toxic chemicals that many scientists believe would cause irreversible damage to the aquifers and a great risk to public health. All over the Fayetteville Shale, residents have complained of water that has gone “bad” after fracking. Some have reported dirty, smelly, diminished or even explosive water.
Finally, earthquakes have been activated and some geologists believe injections wells AND FRACKING are the source of these earthquakes. We are also on the edge of the mighty New Madrid seismic zone. Our infrastructure and lives could be at risk. How would gas wells, gas pipelines, a nuclear power plant, water dams, roads and buildings survive in a 6.0 earthquake? WE MUST HAVE A MORATORIUM ON FRACKING AND INJECTION WELLS NOW! We must err on the side of human safety! Moratorium does not mean no drilling ever, but simply means we must take a “time-out” to assess the dangers and only accept drilling/fracking after much study has been done to PROVE that it can be done safely. We must take the time to assess the current damage and plan properly. Industry often focuses on the financial benefits, yet with study one realizes that at best these are illusory. Because of shale gas production once thriving industries such as tourism and farming are dying, while the very counties that are enduring the heaviest drilling have experienced rising unemployment. A large percentage of our resource is being shipped to foreign markets and foreign companies are gaining a large foothold in our state. American Security??? Dollars gained will quickly dissolve into debt if an unspeakable catastrophe occurs because of the haste to extract this resource. Our water and our lives are at risk!!!
We implore you on World Water Day to call for an emergency order for a Moratorium today!!!
Sincerely,
Contacts:
Governor Beebe
501-682-2345
tonya.mercer@governor.arkansas.gov
Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality
Director Teresa Marks
marks@adeq.state.ar.us
Call the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission,
Director Larry Bengal at 501-683-5814
Larry.Bengal@aogc.state.ar.us
Senator Jason Rapert
501-336-0918
Jason.Rapert@senate.ar.gov.
Senator Gilbert Baker
501-327-8653
bakerg@arkleg.state.ar.us
Representative Stephen Meeks
501-205-3272
stephen.meeks@arkansashouse.org
Representative David Meeks
501-277-9340
david.meeks@arkansashouse.org
Representative Josh Johnston
501-206-7091
josh.johnston@arkansashouse.org
Representative Robert Dale
479-970-3503
redale70@yahoo.com
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