Protest - What can you do?

Today was successful. Many drove by the Jeter Rd. site and received information as to Williams Gulf Coast Production's possible plans for the Jeter Rd site.  The main question today was "What can I do?" You can begin by:

• Signing the online petition
• Learn about what is going on through the this blog and others.
• Send ABCA your contact information to get Alerts.
• Begin attending town, school and other area meetings when gas is on the agenda.
• Write your local and state representatives and voice your concerns. 

If you are on a lease or own your minerals this does not mean you can not advocate for clean air, water and safe drilling practices. It is the hope that all gas operators who do business in this area would adhere to all laws, permitting processes and green completion methods. However, when citizens continue to find disparaging information in the mentioned areas it raises concerns. These concerns become serious when we realize the affects of a missed step with the gas industry could result in dangerous results for our families.

Denton Record Chronicle reports on Jeter Rd. issues.

ARGYLE — Protesters opposing a natural gas company’s plans to build wastewater tanks and compressors in a rural neighborhood temporarily blocked workers’ access to the site Monday morning, in a move designed to draw attention to their plight.

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/drc/localnews/stories/DRC-Gas_Well_protest_0524.35fa8752.html

Today on Jeter Rd.

Today on Jeter Rd. Williams has torn down 150 year old trees.

Call to action - Mothers protest toxic waste facility!

Greed and Gas Divide Community
Mothers protest toxic waste dump in neighborhood.

For Immediate Release:

At dawn on Monday, May 24th, a group of mothers and children protest Williams Petroleum's exploitation of lax regulation in Texas as they install a massive toxic waste facility in the heart of their neighborhood. Neighbors call the facility on Jeter Road in Argyle, Texas DISH 2.

Concerned mother and founding member of Argyle - Bartonville Communities Alliance, Jayme Sizelove, says, "This dangerous site is too close to homes. It's only 100 feet from my son's bedroom window." 

Leaseholders and Argyle Town Council Members made back-room deals with Williams Petroleum to move the waste from the site where it's produced and shove it off on the unsuspecting neighbors.  Rather than recycle gas waste onsite, Williams is transporting the waste to a residential neighborhood.

This site is in the Denton Creek flood plain where runoff can contaminate drinking water downstream. "As far as we know, proper permits, plats, hydrology studies and emergency plans have not been made," said Jana DeGrand an alliance member.

In other states, Williams uses best practices and recycles drilling waste onsite, but best practices are not mandated in Texas so Williams refuses to use them. "Texans deserve best practices too." said Susan Knoll. "People who profit from the wells should deal with the waste".

Onsite recycling would eliminate:
    •    unregulated toxic waste pipelines
    •    massive truck traffic in a residential area
    •    explosive and toxic waste near children
    •    toxic compounds in air from fugitive emissions

Drillers should Drill-Right Texas or not drill at all.

For more information:

Argyle - Bartonville Communities Alliance http://abcalliance.blogspot.com

Drill-Right Texas: Best Oil & Gas Practices for Texas, http://earthworksaction.org/publications.cfm?pubID=444

ABCA addresses the Denton County Commisioners Court

ABCA wants a taskforce to address the issues of gas exploration in denton county. See the powerful presentation given to the denton county commissioners court. County Commisssioners agreed to a taskforce and work has begun to put a best practices together for Denton County.

ABCA Addresses Denton Commissioner Court from Runner Susan on Vimeo.

Breaking News! - SOMEBODY HAS BEEN LIED TO

BREAKING NEWS!!!

My heart is breaking as SOMEBODY HAS BEEN LIED TO and I believe it is ABCA. A neighbor out for a Saturday morning stroll just stopped by the Jeter Rd. site and asked a simple question to the individual in charge at the Jeter Rd. site. What are you doing on this property? The answer was, We are preparing the site for 32 storage tanks to be delivered Monday." Yes guys:

32

This is unacceptable!

As this is breaking news there will be more to follow soon. 

How to find new drill permits...

One of the comments on a previous post, the writer ask: 

How do you find out when a new permit is being applied for by these companies? Do we have the right to protest a well site if it is not in an area that is appropriate for drilling?

ABCA is watching the RRC website closely for new permits in Denton County. You can to. Go to:

http://webapps.rrc.state.tx.us/DP/initializePublicQueryAction.do

Type in Denton County or any other information you have. You can then begin to search. However, please remember that by the time a permit is requested at the RRC the town has already approved it. The first place to watch is the P&Z town agenda's. Then it will go to the town council and on to the RRC for a permit. The best time to protest is with P&Z and town council. Once it gets to RRC you need to be a mineral owner within the pool and if you are within 330 feet of the drill line you can request a hearing with the RRC.

Also when looking for permits for new gas exploration in the area, it is interesting to know that you can search the RRC website for new pipelines. However, this area is not updated online but every couple of months and so far for the year the RRC does not show any new permits for pipelines in Denton County. (ABCA will post more on this soon)

Now when it comes to Compressor Stations and Centralized Collection Facilities there is not a permit pulled until they are ready to fire up the engines. I believe this is done with TCEQ. ABCA is learning everyday so if any of this needs to be corrected we will gladly do so.

Pay Attention - Williams is moving into Double Oak

Now that Flower Mound is pushing back against Williams they are moving into Double Oak.
They have permitted 3 new wells through the RRC in the past week. They will be situated off Kings Road.  Where will the pipelines, tanks, compressors, etc go?