Environmental issues have come to the forefront in Denton County, Texas. Over the past several years, residents have been concerned about natural gas drilling and production and its impact on air quality and water quality, water quantity, habitats, quality of life, as well as public health in general.  There are thousands of wells in the County. This is all in the context of poor air quality in the region (and air quality non-attainment), droughts, and drilling in increasingly urbanized areas.

Many battles have played out, from Dish, Texas to Flower Mound, Texas to  Denton, Texas on the role of local municipalities in regulating this activity. This all takes place in context of the State of Texas regulations as well as the federal EPA and other laws. 

It is vital that we elect people who will continue to fight for clean air, clean water, and quality of life at the state and national level. While developing new sources of energy, we need to act responsibly and promote both environmental and economic goals. Our candidates also support the development of renewable energy.

We have already seen the passage of new air quality laws at the EPA under the Obama administration that will apply to gas drilling sites nationwide after a transition period. These laws include such requirements as green completions that reduce air emissions and allow the gas companies to reclaim gas that would have been lost to the atmosphere.

There is still more work to be done to protect our air and water. Many Republican candidates have vowed to weaken or reverse many environmental regulations at the EPA, or national level.  We continue to fight for improved EPA rules as well as legislation in Congress and at the Texas State Legislature that will responsibly protect citizens from the impacts of natural gas extraction activity as well as many other mineral and energy extraction activities.

Here is a link to the roster of candidates:

Denton County Democratic Party Candidates

The Committee would like to highlight two local candidates who have provided their statements on environmental issues:

David Sanchez, Candidate for United States Representative, Texas District 26

“We need should be responsible when pursuing Oil and Natural Gas domestically. We should invest in research that will help us understand the consequences and how to extract our resources responsibly. I believe in green technology. This would not only create jobs in the North Texas area but will also reduce the US oil dependency on foreign nations and most importantly protect our environment for generations to come. We must continue on the path towards energy independence and sustainability.”

http://www.sanchezforcongress.org/issues/

Mary Brown, Candidate for Texas Representative, District 64

“There is a long and storied history in Texas of the Oil and Gas industry, but one that is also marred with stories of irresponsible drilling that have become public more frequently in the past few years. I believe that drilling in Texas can still be done safely, without destroying our land, sky and water. The Companies that want to drill have to prove to us that it can be done safely without dumping waste into our water and allowing the well to leak into the ground.

Tougher penalties for wells not properly sealed and requiring drilling companies to go about their business in a safe manner does not kill jobs and does not put our State at risk of losing their business. We have to increase the inspection frequency of companies with bad safety records while giving a more lenient schedule to those that have a long record of drilling safely. This way the companies have an even greater incentive to drill safely and cleanly.

While we’re making drilling safer for our environment, we should look to our environment to create our next source of energy. In Texas, and especially North Texas, we have the sun and the wind to power alternative energy sources. Let Texas lead the nation and use our innovative spirit to use all of our natural resources to power our future.

We have to protect our environment because the State of Texas will be around for a very long time, and we want our land to be worth something when my Great-Grand Children are raising their families.

As a final note, I believe that local governments should be the greatest line of the defense when it comes to hydro-fracking and gas drilling within communities. The city of Denton and Cities across Texas need to make hard decisions about what they are going to allow in their communities and how best to balance energy production with the safety and well being of their citizens.”

http://www.marykbrown.com

The Environment and Energy Committee urges you to vote for our Democratic candidates in the November 6th, 2012 election to keep the momentum going, and to elect candidates that will fight to protect our environment. Early Voting continues until Friday, November 2nd, 2012.

Information on Early Voting and Election Day Voting in Denton County

Get out to vote for the environment!

Josh Fox released an insightful and controversial new video today, “The Sky is Pink,” today as a preview to “Gasland 2.”  He provides insights into the recent advertising campaigns of ANGA, provides insights into media coverage on controversial issues, and most importantly provides evidence of the link between hydraulic fracturing and groundwater contamination.  This video is in response to Governor Cuomo considering possibly allowing drilling in some areas of New York State.

Denton County was mentioned in the film as related to increased breast cancer rates.

There is another DAG panel discussion on October 20th (7PM-9PM).  The panel consists of regulators and the industry this time.

Here is the DAG announcement from Facebook:

EESAT (ENV) 110, UNT main campus

1704 W Mulberry

The Denton Stakeholders Drilling Advisory Group (DAG) is pleased to present another panel for our series regarding urban gas well drilling.

Regional experts from TX Railroad Commission, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and Devon Energy will speak about the regulatory landscape surrounding gas drilling policies. Q&A will follow their presentations. Please arrive early to submit your written questions for our panel.

The panel includes:
Jay Ewing — Devon Energy (Manager, Completion and Construction)
John Tintera — Railroad Commission of Texas (Executive Director)
Tony Walker — TCEQ (D/FW Regional Manager)

For more information on the DAG, please visit the blog at www.dentondrilling.blogspot.com, or “like” DAG on Facebook!

An important public hearing is being held this week about the proposed air pollution reduction standards associated with gas drilling.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Arlington Municipal Building

City Council Chambers

101 W. Abram St.

Arlington, Texas 76010

9:00 AM to 8:00 PM and you must contact the EPA to get a time slot to speak or you may not get a preferred time.

To register to speak at a specific time at any of the hearings, please contact Joan C. Rogers at 919-541-4487 or email    rogers.joanc@epa.gov

Here is the EPA website about the hearings.  EPA site about location.

SUMMARY: This action announces how
the EPA proposes to address the reviews
of the new source performance
standards for volatile organic compound
and sulfur dioxide emissions from
natural gas processing plants. We are
proposing to add to the source category
list any oil and gas operation not
covered by the current listing. This
action also includes proposed
amendments to the existing new source
performance standards for volatile
organic compounds from natural gas
processing plants and proposed
standards for operations that are not
covered by the existing new source
performance standards. In addition, this
action proposes how the EPA will
address the residual risk and technology
review conducted for the oil and natural
gas production and natural gas
transmission and storage national
emission standards for hazardous air
pollutants. This action further proposes
standards for emission sources within
these two source categories that are not
currently addressed, as well as
amendments to improve aspects of these
national emission standards for
hazardous air pollutants related to
applicability and implementation.
Finally, this action addresses provisions
in these new source performance
standards and national emission
standards for hazardous air pollutants
related to emissions during periods of
startup, shutdown and malfunction.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before October 24, 2011.

The City of Denton will be holding its first official meeting for citizen input on the gas drilling ordinance revisions, Phase 2,  this Thursday, August 25, 2011, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Denton Civic Center.

http://www.cityofdenton.com/index.aspx?page=33&recordid=5322&returnURL=%2findex.aspx

There is also a local citizens group,  Denton Stakeholder Drilling Advisory Group, that has formed to provide another forum for education and citizen input:

http://dentondrilling.blogspot.com

 

 

 

Congressman Burgess held a Town Hall Meeting at Denton High School Tonight.  Most of the discussion was about the economy and the recent battles in Congress over the debt ceiling.

When asked about the gas drilling issues in his district, and the continued concerns in many cities, he responded that the TCEQ has lost credibility and that that test results are often questioned from air monitoring. He also mentioned the recent studies in Fort Worth as also being unduly questioned.

He also pointed to the recent legislation recently presented at the Peterbilt plant in Denton by Rick Perry as a “model” for disclosure on fracing fluids.  He dismissed most recent efforts by the EPA as making progress on this issue.

It does not appear that he is making any significant efforts at the Federal level to address the continuing environmental and quality of life issues from gas drilling in the Barnett Shale.

Check out the article in the New York Times  about last week’s protest by Rising Tide North Texas in Fort Worth against gas drilling.

About 40-50 protesters marched through the streets in Downtown Fort Worth to voice concerns and anger over continuing gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing.  Rising Tide North Texas members from the University of North Texas, residents of Hurst, residents of Fort Worth, residents of Denton, and others participated in the march.

“…Clean Air… Now!” and “…Clean Water… Now!” were among the chants.   A Fort Worth mother holding her toddler spoke at the Range Resources Headquarters about her concerns over her daughter’s new respiratory problems that require daily nebulizer treatments.  She is convinced that the air quality problems from drilling are contributing to poor health.

A Denton resident spoke about how the local City Council approved a gas drilling site near residences despite the opposition by local residents.  Texas State law permits such decisions and she believes that the laws need to be changed.

There is a growing interest to coordinate efforts of all gas drilling community groups across the Barnett Shale.

Here is one article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram the mentions the March as well as a YouTube video.

See this Oscar-nominated documentary by Josh Fox on the environmental impacts of gas drilling. Rising Tide North Texas, an environmental activism organization, and the Environment and Energy Committee of the DCDP are co-sponsoring this event. Local community organization and expert panel available after the movie for questions. Free and open to the public.

Panel:

Neil Durrance

Ginger Simonson of Flower Mound Cares

Sharon Wilson of Earthworks

University of North Texas Wooten Hall, Room 322 (Highland Street west of Welch Street)

March 11th, 7:00 PM

During a very engaging debate tonight held at the Denton City Council Chambers, the three Congressional candidates expressed their views on issues from the economy to gas drilling environmental issues.

Congressman Burgess again avoided the true issue for addressing environmental and health concerns around gas drilling in the Barnett Shale.  He blames the Democrats for not recently passing the Frac Act.

1. Burgess however did not mention that he will specifically not support the Frac Act if it comes to a vote.   At the Senate level, bills now require 60 votes to pass, so the bill would require Republican support as well even if Democrats voted for the bill.

2. Burgess also failed to mention that he voted in favor of the Halliburton Loophole as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.  The Loophole exempts hydraulic fracturing from the Clean Drinking Water Act and enables companies not to disclose the water and air pollutants in frac fluid.

Neil Durrance would support the enforcement of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts for the gas drilling process.  Durrance would also make it a priority to speed up the EPA study on hydraulic fracturing. Burgess dismissed this possibility.  Although Burgress states he is concerned about this issue and is pushing for better oversight by the TCEQ,  he dodges the fact that he was part of the original problem that has only gotten worse since 2005.