Rogers: Fort Worth needs a moratorium on natural gas drilling

By DEBORAH ROGERS

Special to the Star-Telegram

Last month, after years of drilling in the Barnett Shale, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) released the findings of its initial testing: High levels of benzene, a known human carcinogen, are in our air because of natural gas drilling in and around Fort Worth.

TCEQ also has confirmed that further testing for sulfides will be conducted. Sulfides, known human neurotoxins that attack the central nervous system, have been detected near gas drilling operations in Fort Worth in private studies.

A letter addressed to me by the City of Fort Worth after its review of the scientific data gathered at my home by private environmental engineers during the flaring of a nearby gas well stated that, ". . . the evidence provided . . .does not demonstrate adverse health effects."

At that time, I was the only one in North Texas who had data of this kind. Since then, more data have been gathered by private and state agencies that corroborate what was found in the air on the west side of Fort Worth.

The City’s letter went on to say that ". . . the City’s green completion ordinance is protective of the public and does not need to be re-examined for effectiveness at this time."

With the data released by TCEQ, I suggest that the problem is greater than first imagined.

When high levels of a known human carcinogen are found in our air — benzene was one of the compounds found after tests at my home — it is fair to say that the ordinance is decidedly not comprehensive enough nor is it effective or protective. It does need to be re-examined.

The long-term consequences of these findings not only could be detrimental to our health, but also highly damaging to our local economy. It is no good to improve our parks with money from Barnett Shale activities if the air we breathe is polluted with toxic chemicals.

It is no good to improve our schools if the toxins our children are inhaling are damaging to their mental and physical development.

It is no good if real estate developers spend vast sums of money to enhance the city if we gain a reputation for the poorest air quality in North Texas.

As much as oil and gas is a part of our heritage, it is not the only activity that makes us great. Drilling has occurred at unprecedented rates in densely populated areas — near our homes, our schools, our medical facilities. It was allowed without ever conducting a study to determine the consequences of such activity on our neighborhoods, our health and our welfare, and without ever putting into place a system of ongoing monitoring or controls. Short-term gain won out over long-term responsibility to local residents.

Having said all this, there are ways to rectify the problem. Technologies exist that can reduce emissions from gas drilling by as much as 99 percent. Most are highly cost-effective. They should be incorporated into our drilling ordinance immediately.

Some of these technologies are being used by Chesapeake Energy at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport specifically to contain emissions and comply with its Clean Air Policy. This begs the question: Why use such technologies around airplanes, but not around human beings?

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