Bartonville, Texas Elections
Not much of an election when no one runs, not much of an election when there’s a couple of seats open and only 10% of the community comes out to vote. And congratulations to everyone who did vote that was awesome.
I had one concern about our election. Why was it we were told that the gas companies were going to pay to fix our roads and then we had a bond this election for a sales tax increase to fix our roads. It makes me feel like some one isn’t holding up to their side of the bargain. I think, as a community we have a lot of that going on. A lot of promises being made about gas drilling, like it’s safe, like it won’t impact our environment, like it’s cleaner than coal. Well, those are some of the promises the gas companies made to us.
Let me tell you how this all started. I usually don’t like to get involved to heavily with politics. I have strong opinions, I am a smart woman, but I have always been, I’ll let ‘them’ take care of it. I’ll vote in ways that will best express my interests. Well, until my good friend had the proverbial disaster at her house. You can check that out, and a very informative video at www.runnersusan.com. It’s really worth the time.
Well, then, I still wasn’t on the bandwagon, but I did start researching it(sorry, Susan). That’s the kind of person I am. If I don’t know about something, I dig, I dig and I dig. That’s what makes me such a good endurance coach, because I am non stop in getting the knowledge to make you the fastest athlete you can be.
Well, that’s kinda what happened with my research and the gas drilling. I dug, it only took a few days before I found enough information to know that we are all being lied to about the safety of gas drilling. Now I am doing everything in my power to make sure that my community is safe.
That being said, I was on my way home from voting and I noticed this pond, that was lined in black plastic with a white ring around it, it was white where water once was. This pond is on a XTO site, neighbor, and I believe, it’s on Army’s land, neighbor, and this is ‘the pond’ where I am being told they are taking water from it to frack another well. In the last year, this ‘pond’, the water was in the pond then, not in the pond and then, in the pond again. Now the water is traveling across people’s property and leaking at every junction of the rinky dink pipeline that is running across Argyle and Unicorporated parts of Denton County.
I have learned through all my research that white is a very common residue that can occur as a result of fracking. If you want to see pictures of the aforementioned ‘pond’ they are at www.abcalliance.blogspot.com. This white residue is indicative of salt, of one thing, and another thing can be hydrocarbons. So as a concerned citizen I called the TCEQ, and the RRC. Both of those offices are closed on the weekend so you are then directed to an emergency number. I am unsure if it’s an emergency. I am thinking, if it’s recycled fracking material it’s a huge emergency.
The TCEQ contacted the RRC. It was Sunday before I talked to any body, partly my fault. I told David from the RRC that I wanted to have the water tested from the pond at Jeter Rd and S Gibbons, and that I also wanted the white powdery residue tested, both for conductivity (EPA told me this is the only test that proves fracking waste), hydrocarbons, sodium and chloride. He told me they were fine, it was fresh water. Then, I followed up with him later on Sunday, and told him I wanted the water tested for conductivity. He told me he couldn’t find the pond I was talking about and he couldn’t do those tests until Monday, 48 hours have passed. So I followed up with him on Monday, I couldn’t remember what he told me about the results, he told me he didn’t test the white powdery substance on the black plastic. But said the water only had so much sodium and he didn’t test for conductivity or for chlorides and gave no response to hydrocarbons.
Wednesday comes, at 11:30 I call him, he says call the RRC in Wichita Falls, so I did, I talked to Walter. Walter gave me a number that was different than what David told me, but I still can’t remember it because it is spoken in a way I don’t understand. So I let Walter know I want a written copy of the results. He tells me he doesn’t have a written copy of the results
Me: what do you mean you don’t have a written copy of the results, then how can you tell me what the results were?
Walter: I remember what David told me
M: I don’t understand how you can tell me the results when you don’t have a written copy.
W: Well, they do this test out in the field and then they just scribble down the results, but I don’t have a written copy of the results.
M: I am interested in having the white powdery residue tested for hydrocarbons, salt and chlorides.
W: Well, we didn’t test the white powdery residue, it wasn’t important.
M: what do you mean it’s not important? If it’s hydrocarbons and the wind blows it can be released into the air
W: No it can’t it’s on the plastic and there was no indication to test it
M: Yes, it can, science proves that, the substance is now a solid and can be easily picked up off of the black plastic and carried off in the wind and then breathed in by my community, I want to know what the white powdery substance is on the black plastic.
W: If you want to know what the white powdery stuff is you’re going to have to have the EPA test it or an independent environmental firm test it.
M: I want a written copy of the results from the pond 1701 Jeter, XTO site.
W: I don’t have them.
M: It’s your job to keep the citizens of Texas safe. It’s coming out how the RRC isn’t following up and keeping the citizens of Texas safe from natural gas drilling. So what you’re telling me is that when a complaint is made with the RRC you don’t make a written response to the complaint?
W: you win, you win, you win. I’ll send you a copy of the written results. What’s your email.
M: zgnance@verizon.net
That was Wednesday, it’s Friday, a week from my original complaint and I still don’t have a copy of the results from the test. And we are really going to believe that the RRC commission has our best interest at heart. I know this pond was used for fracking, I have seen water in it, not in it and in it again. I want YOU to be safe, I want me to be safe. And the RRC isn’t even willing to release the results to me, to find out if the water is conductive. Nor are they willing to test the white powdery stuff on the black lining, that is the link to tell us if this is recycled frack water that is leaking all over the property of the citizens of Argyle and unincorporated areas of Denton County.
I think, I will probably have to start recording my phone conversations.
me to the RRC and TCEQ, “This phone call may be recorded to ensure the safety of my community.”
Don’t lie to me, or act like I am an idiot. I am a scientist, I do research, I have had biochemistry, I know what’s going to happen once the Earth begins to settle from all the fracking. Walter you’re busted in yet another big frickin’ lie. And this one is recorded here now and forever, the next one, I’m thinking will be on tape. Because it’s more accurate.
BTW, I was a National Member of Lincoln Douglas Debate, ask my husband, he knows, first hand. I can and will always win an argument, especially if it’s important. So don’t even think for a second you’re going to get a way with it. Because you’re not.