EARTHblog
Texas OGAP launches. DRILL RIGHT TEXAS shows way forward for TX drillers and regulators.
Yesterday, EARTHWORKS launched the Texas Oil and Gas Accountability Project a new watchdog to keep an eye on the drilling industry in the Barnett Shale of north central Texas.Texas OGAP also released DRILL RIGHT TEXAS, a guide to gas extraction best practices.
Like its cousin, the Marcellus Shale gas play that underlies most of the north central Appalachian Mountains including New York and Pennsylvania, the Barnett Shale contains vast reserves of natural gas that recently became economic to extract.
The reason it's now economic: a relatively new drilling technique called horizontal hydraulic fracturing.
You may have heard that natural gas is better for the environment than other fossil fuels. When it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, that is true certainly when compared to coal. But and it's a big but when it comes to local impacts, natural gas extraction/processing/transport as currently practiced is not something you'd wish on your worst enemy, or their drinking water.
Tagged with: texas ogap, barnett shale, best practices, drill right texas
DISH, Texas Mayor's message to drilling-impacted communities of the Marcellus Shale
Because of his experience exposing the industry's malfeasance, and the public health impacts associated with it (and his success in moving state government to respond), DISH, Texas Mayor Calvin Tillman was invited up to the Marcellus region in New York and Pennsylvania to share his wisdom -- and to get to know the experiences of other gas industry impacted communities.
After a week "up north" he wrote the following message:
Tagged with: marcellus shale, texas, dish, mayor tillman
Democracy Now! features GASLAND, Congressional investigation into fracking
Tagged with: fracking, new york, democracy now
Injecting diesel fuel into oil and gas wells (and drinking water)? FRAC that!
According to the House Energy and Commerce committee, the three largest hydraulic fracturing companies may be using diesel fuel or diesel-based solutions, along with other hazardous chemicals, in their hydraulic fracturing fluids.
This potentially violates the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Tagged with: fracking, hydraulic fracturing, frac act
Modernize the 1872 Mining Law: Missoulian
February 9th, the Missoulian (in Montana) ran an excellent opinion column calling for the modernizing of the 1872 Mining Law.
Tagged with: 1872 mining law, missoulian
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