STATE OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE ADDITIONAL MONITORING IN BARNETT SHALE
For Immediate Release Aug. 23, 2010
Media Contacts:
Janice McCoy
on behalf of Sen. Fraser
512-463-0124
Toni Barcellona
on behalf of Rep. Cook
512-463-0730
Senator Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay) and Representative Byron Cook (R-Corsicana) along with other members of the Texas Legislature and Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief announced that the state will increase the air quality monitoring network in the Barnett Shale region.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) currently has seven automated gas chromatograph (AutoGC) monitors in operation in the Barnett Shale region. These monitors operate around the clock, measuring levels of more than 45 volatile organic compounds, including benzene. The emissions data collected from these monitors is used to evaluate current air quality conditions in the region and posted online.
Members of the Texas Legislature have directed the TCEQ to add an additional eight Auto GCs (for a total of 15 in the area) to monitor air quality in the Barnett Shale. They further directed the TCEQ to contract with a third-party to assist in the evaluation of the data.
“The Barnett Shale has been a great economic benefit for Texas and especially the Fort Worth region,” said Fraser. “However, with growth there are growing pains. In order to know how to protect the public, we must have enough information to put the correct safeguards in place.”
Cook remarked, “The additional air monitors will offer Texans greater transparency about the air quality in the Barnett Shale region because more scientific data will be available to the public, in real time, via the TCEQ’s website.”
“We continue to work closely with its state partners to find solutions to the challenges associated with the production of natural gas in and around our communities,” said Mayor Moncrief. “With respect to the impact on our air quality, there are still too many unanswered questions. These additional monitors will only add to our understanding of this important issue and how it affects our residents. The people of Fort Worth appreciate the actions by Sen. Fraser, Rep. Cook and others who helped move this initiative forward.”
“As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, I want us to have all the information we need to create the best environmental policies,” said Fraser. “We can make positive changes without over burdening our residents and businesses financially.”
“The additional monitors will help businesses to quickly identify and address pollution sources, which will lead to improved air quality in the D/FW area,” Cook stated. “As chairman of the House Committee on Environmental Regulation, my goal is to ensure citizens’ public health is protected without causing a financial hardship for the employees and families who depend on jobs from Texas’ energy sector.”
###
SEN. TROY FRASER represents Senate District 24. He is Chairman of the Senate Committee Natural Resources.
REP. BYRON COOK represents House District 8. He is Chairman of the House Committee on Environmental Regulation.
EPA TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING ON DRINKING WATER AND HYDRAULIC FRACTURING, JULY 8
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2010
EPA Announces a Schedule of Public Meetings on Hydraulic Fracturing Research Study
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is hosting four public information meetings on the proposed study of the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and its potential impacts on drinking water.
Hydraulic fracturing is a process that helps production of natural gas or oil from shale and other geological formations. By pumping fracturing fluids (water and chemical additives) and sand or other similar materials into rock formations, fractures are created that allow natural gas or oil to flow from the rock through the fractures to a production well for extraction. The meetings will provide public information about the proposed study scope and design. EPA will solicit public comments on the draft study plan.
The public meetings will be held on:
*July 8 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. CDT at the Hilton Fort Worth in Fort Worth, Texas
*July 13 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. MDT at the Marriot Tech Center’s Rocky Mountain Events Center in Denver, Colo.
*July 22 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. EDT at the Hilton Garden Inn in Canonsburg, Pa.
*August 12 at the Anderson Performing Arts Center at Binghamton University in Binghamton, N.Y. for 3 sessions – 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. EDT
Natural gas plays a key role in our nation’s clean energy future and hydraulic fracturing is one way of accessing this vital resource. However, serious concerns have been raised about hydraulic fracturing’s potential impact on drinking water, human health and the environment. To address these concerns, EPA announced in March that it will study the potential adverse impact that hydraulic fracturing may have on drinking water.
To support the initial planning phase and guide the development of the study plan, the agency sought suggestions and comments from the EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB)-an independent, external federal advisory committee. The agency will use this advice and extensive stakeholder input to guide the design of the study.
Stakeholders are requested to pre-register for the meetings at least 72 hours before each meeting.
More information on the meetings: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/wells_hydrofrac.html
HEARING TO COLLECT FEEDBACK ON AIR QUALITY AROUND GAS WELLS, MAY 20
Provide feedback to the City Council-appointed Air Quality Study Committee at a public hearing, set for 7 p.m. May 20 in the City Hall’s Council Chamber, 1000 Throckmorton St.
The Air Quality Study Committee has been tasked with developing study objectives to evaluate the impact of gas drilling on Fort Worth air quality. The committee, which includes liaisons from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, has developed a detailed scope of work and a request for qualifications (RFQ) to be advertised for submittals by firms with relevant expertise.
The committee also has developed criteria for evaluating the submissions. As a part of their work, the committee has been reviewing written and e-mailed comments from residents.
At the hearing, committee members will present information about the study’s scope of work and allow attendees to give their feedback, which will be considered before interviews or contract negotiations begin with qualified firms.
Resident feedback is important
The City and the committee are focused on meeting an aggressive timeline to allow air sampling in the hottest months of the year while incorporating public input into the final product.
The City issued an RFQ May 6 that includes the committee’s proposed scope of work. To address issues raised by the public, an addendum to the RFQ may be issued after the public hearing. Responding consultants will be required to incorporate the elements of the addendum into their responses.
A copy of the RFQ is available for download on the Air Quality Committee page. Copies will be available at the hearing.
Submit written comments on the documents to airqualitystudy@FortWorthGov.org, Call Rick Trice at 817-392-7959 if you have additional questions about the process.
SUBSURFACE DRILLING PUBLIC NOTICE
March 3, 2010
The City of Fort Worth has been approached by a number of interested parties for the purpose of extracting natural gas from the Barnett Shale Formation. The Parks and Community Services Department has been asked to allow the use of subsurface of the following park for the purpose of natural gas drilling and extraction from an offsite location.
- Veteran’s Memorial Park – 4120 Camp Bowie Blvd
The City Council will conduct a public hearing, in accordance with Chapter 26 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, on March 23, 2010 at 10am in the City Council Chamber, second floor, City Hall, 1000 Throckmorton Street, 76102.
This letter serves to inform your neighborhood of the requested use of the subsurface of Veterans Memorial Park for the purpose of drilling and extracting the minerals. This subsurface use would not have an impact on usable park area because there will be no drilling on park property and the surface will not be disturbed.
AHNA would like your opinion on this matter — we have also contacted the contact for this notice, Joel McElhany, Acting Park Planning Superintendent, to gain more information and will report that information as it’s obtained.
SEISMIC TESTING UPDATE
Several residents have called regarding seismic testing. I spoke to Gateway Permit Services yesterday and they confirmed that they’ve been putting information on doors letting residents know that seismic testing will be taking place in our neighborhood very soon.
I also confirmed that residents who did NOT sign a seismic testing waiver will NOT see any equipment on their lawn, and seismic information will not be taken anywhere on the property line.
If you have any questions / concerns you are welcome to call Kerri with Gateway Permit Services at 817-781-1114.
MESSAGE FROM THE LEAGUE OF NEIGHBORHOODS
The following is an important letter from businesswoman Deborah Rogers to members of the Fort Worth City Council regarding the latest information on gas drilling emissions testing by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. We have been asked to share it with our residents and other neighborhood leaders.
Dear Mr. Mayor and Members of Council,
The Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ) released its final report last week regarding air testing in the Barnett Shale region. After careful review of both the toxicology and the final report, it becomes clear that gas drilling activity is indeed having a detrimental effect on our air quality in North Texas. Unfortunately, the citizens and the Council have been given information which at times is inconsistent and puzzling.
The report indicates that high levels of benzene are at approximately 1 of every 2 facilities. A total of 43 facilities were tested and 21 were found to have benzene levels “higher than TCEQ would like to see.” This is important to note because as citizens we live next to facilities and will be affected by any point source at that facility which is emitting toxins. They went on to state that “gas production facilities can, and in some cases do, emit contaminants in amounts that could be deemed unsafe.”
According to TCEQ’s Toxicology Report, “twenty one facilities (52 samples) in 12 geographic locations registered benzene above long term health based screening levels”, or roughly half of all facilities tested.
In addition to the findings of benzene, elevated levels of carbon disulfide, ethane, 1,2 dibromethane and isopentane were detected above short term health based comparisons at some sites. In total, “35 chemicals were detected above appropriate short term comparisons”. The addition of these chemicals simply adds to the toxic mixture in our air. Further, NOx was detected in multiple samples and as we all know NOx is a primary constituent of ozone. Odorous compounds which could cause odor related illness were also found at high concentrations.
Further, on January 12, we were told that 126 sites had been tested in Ft. Worth. But of these 126 sites only eight canister samples were actually taken. Most of the sites had merely been screened with infra red cameras and vapor analyzers, neither of which is designed to test ambient air.
Further these electronic devices can be compromised in cold weather. Eight samples do not indicate a comprehensive review. Dr. Honeycutt, Chief Toxicologist of TCEQ, made a statement recently to the Star Telegram that the first round of tests in Ft. Worth was “more of a screening. We’re not done in Ft. Worth by any stretch of the imagination.”
So where does this leave us as citizens? What picture are we meant to draw from this rather dense and at times confusing information?
It is this. While TCEQ does plan to implement changes that are designed to mitigate some of the detrimental effects of drilling, the fact remains that they only have 17 inspectors for the entire Barnett Shale region. That is 1 inspector for approximately every 1000 wells and this does not include compressor stations and all the other peripheral equipment needed which also require inspection. In the case of compressor stations, these can indeed be of greatest concern. In short, TCEQ cannot possibly police this effectively or adequately. The drilling activity has simply grown too large. We are asking them to do the impossible.
The only way to adequately protect our families, homes and businesses is to implement changes to the gas drilling ordinance which would impose more stringent requirements and thereby lessen the burden of policing. Further on-going monitoring must be conducted for the life of the wells and this cost should be borne by the operators as part of the permit process and considered a normal cost of doing business in such a densely populated area. Contractual obligations with local universities who have in-house testing capabilities could be entered into on behalf of the City which would be highly cost effective and thereby keep testing independent of both the City and the operators.
Technologies exist which are inexpensive and can reduce emissions by 99%. In fact, in a recent memorandum by EPA it was stated that if the operators implement pollution technology and capture the methane which can then be sold, such technologies pay for themselves typically in about 2 months. These technologies must be imposed by the ordinance. There is no excuse for not utilizing them when they are this inexpensive.
We now have our answer as to the effects on an immediate neighborhood by one of these facilities. The State has confirmed our fears. The air in North Texas is indeed being adversely affected by drilling activity. There are myriad other questions which remain to be answered such as the extent of carbon disulfide and other toxic contamination in addition to the benzene. Carbon disulfide and reduced sulfur compounds are being detected at pad sites in Ft. Worth and Denton County in private testing. This will only exacerbate the problem. We must act responsibly to ensure that our health and safety are protected. We must face this head-on and through responsible action make Ft. Worth the beacon she deserves to be in North Texas.
Sincerely, Deborah Rogers
All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. www.arlingtonheightsna.com makes no representations as to accuracy, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. The views and opinions expressed in the Arlington Heights Neighborhood Association Blog are not necessarily those of AHNA or its members.
MORE AIR TESTS TO BE DONE AT DRILLING SITES IN FORT WORTH
State environmental regulators plan to do more tests to determine if natural gas wells in the city are contributing to air pollution, Mayor Mike Moncrief announced. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality began testing the air around natural gas wells in the Barnett Shale in 2007, but it’s only completed a few tests in Fort Worth. Preliminary results from gas facilities in rural areas have shown high levels of benzene, a toxic chemical.
Source: http://startelegram.typepad.com/barnett_shale/
SEISMIC TESTING UPDATE
AHNA does not endorse Seismic Testing at this time.
Jeff Seay from Gateway Permit Services recently contacted AHNA about doing another round of seismic testing covering 30 square miles of Fort Worth exclusively for use by Chesapeake as they “fill in the blanks” on their seismic map, thus allowing them to maximize production when drilling for natural gas.
According to Gateway’s Jeff Seay, Gateway Permit Services are going to be back in our neighborhood, as well as many adjacent neighborhoods, attempting to acquire mineral permits in Fort Worth.
“We have a few different agents working again in your neck of the woods that includes Bobby Britton and me. We are looking to have surveyors on the ground at 45 days give or take a few from today’s date. We will have the crews collecting seismic data in 60 to 90 days as well. This data collection may take 15 to 30 days maybe more (weather permitting. Again Chesapeake wants the best 3D look at the Barnett Shale to help maximize gas well drilling and production when that time comes. Please pass my Email and number to anyone wanting me to answer questions. I am available anytime!”
Jeff Seay
Gateway Permit Services
Fort Worth, Tx
817-919-8585
jseay64@aol.com
Again, like earlier this year, agents will be knocking on the doors of residents who have not yet signed a gas lease to obtain their permission to conduct seismic testing. Agents will be respectful of people’s privacy and willingness to sign the form, additionally agents will not be in our neighborhood in the early morning or late evening.
The reason Gateway is returning is that Arlington Heights was on the edge of the XTO’s Edwards project and the quality of data gathered from that seismic testing project was weak; additionally, Chesapeake is seeking to get higher quality data by surveying a larger area. Also geophysicists design projects differently and are more comfortable with their own models and the interpretation of that data. No compensation will be offered for permission to view these minerals. Payment from the last project was for surface access. However all work and equipment for this project will be conducted within public right of way, therefore they are not offering any compensation.
Providing permission to conduct seismic testing is entirely optional for homeowners and you are free to just say no – remember giving permission for Chesapeake to look at what lies beneath before we get a lease negotiated could give Chesapeake an advantage. Further, by providing residents with this information, AHNA does not endorse seismic testing—again, you are welcome to simply say no.
Seismic testing boxes will start appearing in Arlington Heights along the street right-of-ways likely in the fall of this year and testing will last approximately 30 to 45 days. Gateway’s Jeff Seay assured the neighborhood association that Gateway would work with us and our residents as they moved forward with seismic testing agreements. AHNA will provide residents with updates as they become available. Updates could come quickly, so check your email.
GAS WELL SUMMARY JULY 2009
|
Council |
Applying |
Permitted |
Producing |
Abandoned |
Total |
|
2 |
25 | 104 | 230 | 14 | 373 |
|
3 |
2 | 53 | 41 | 1 | 97 |
|
4 |
4 | 29 | 92 | 0 | 125 |
|
5 |
7 | 97 | 63 | 0 | 167 |
|
6 |
5 | 47 | 71 | 0 | 123 |
|
7 |
6 | 71 | 327 | 14 | 418 |
|
8 |
6 | 60 | 160 | 0 | 226 |
|
9 |
0 | 47 | 9 | 0 | 56 |
|
Totals |
55 | 508 | 993 | 29 | 1585 |
Source: City of Fort Worth
PUBLIC INFORMATION NOTICE: SUBSURFACE DRILLING AND EXTRACTING MINERALS AT BOTANIC GARDENS
To read the full notice, click: BOTANIC_GARDEN_DRILLING NOTICE.
FYI: I called Cornell Gordon, the contact for this issue, and he told me that they will not be putting a well on the Botanic Gardens, rather they are seeking a drilling company to extract minerals from the Gardens from another location. Visiting the Railroad Commission web site is very helpful in locating proposed drill sites within the City of Fort Worth: http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/data/online/index.php# and click on the first box “Public GIS Map Viewer for Oil & Gas Wells, Pipeline Data and LP Gas Sites” and click launch application. You’ll get a Texas Map and then use the keys on the right side of the page to locate our area — then you can see location and direction of potential drill sites. It’s updated approximately once a month.
Regarding the Botanic Gardens, the City Council will conduct a public hearing on September 22, 2009 at 10am in the City Council Campber, second floor, City Hall, 1000 Throckmorton Street.
