Related info:
– Prof. Chris Busby For RT: Wrecking The Earth: Fracking Has GRAVE RADIATION Risks Few Talk About
(More on fracking info down below.)
– Update: Is there a media blackout on the fracking flood disaster in Colorado? (Daily Kos, Sep 15, 2013):
Oil and gas wells drilled in a flood plain are under water and leaking in Weld County Colorado. There is at least one pipeline that broke as the dirt supporting it was washed away. Hydrocarbons and no telling what else are leaking into the flood waters yet the media is silent.
I posted this on my blog but it needs wider coverage.
Pictures residents sent to me because there is no media coverage.
A leaking tank floats down the river living an oil slick behind it.
From an email.
I see you’ve noticed the underwater wells in Weld County, Colorado. Amazing; we’ve emailed the Denver TV stations, other media, and state and local politicians. We’ve sent pictures that our members have taken. It’s like the media and politicians have been TOLD not to say anything about it. There has been no mention of the gas wells on the Denver newscasts either last night or this evening although all stations have had extensive and extended flood coverage. You can see underwater wells in the background of some of the newscast videos, and yet the reporters say absolutely nothing.Here’s a picture one of our members took yesterday in Weld County, Colorado. We’ve got tons more on our website. Check it out. The tanks are tipping and, in some cases, have fallen over. They have to be leaking toxins into the flood waters. There have to be hundreds if not thousands of underwater well pads in Weld County as a result of the flooding.
Please publicize this in Texas since our media people and politicians have gone silent!
East Boulder County United
Lafayette, ColoradoUpdate: People living in Weld County contacted me a few minutes ago and they are now receiving many press calls about the underwater, leaking oil and gas facilities.Citizen journalism works!
Another Update: There are quite a few photos HERE. One photo shows another tank that has tipped over. Another photo shows what the author says is a fracking chemical warehouse that flooded.
And Another Update From the Daily Camera:
Regulators say they agree these well sites could pose a contamination risk, and they will get out to assess the damage as soon as it’s feasible.[…]
Lafayette-based anti-fracking activist Cliff Willmeng said he spent two days “zig-zagging” across Weld and Boulder counties documenting flooded drilling sites, mostly along the drainageway of the St. Vrain River. He observed “hundreds” of wells that were inundated. He also saw many condensate tanks that hold waste material from fracking at odd angles or even overturned.
“It’s clear that the density of the oil and gas activity there did not respect where the water would go,” Willmeng said. “What we immediately need to know is what is leaking and we need a full detailed report of what that is. This is washing across agricultural land and into the waterways. Now we have to discuss what type of exposure the human population is going to have to suffer through.”
A spokesman for the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission said the agency is aware of the potential for contamination from flooded drilling sites, but there simply is no way to get to those sites while flooding is ongoing and while resources are concentrated on saving lives.
Apparently all sides agree that there is a contamination risk. So I hope the industry apologists will stop trying to convince us otherwise.
An UPDATE from Weld County residents:
Hi Sharon,To circle back, activists here have been contacted by Bloomberg, the Weather Channel, NPR, the BBC and Al Jazeera….so far. Thanks so much for your help. The pictures are all over the web and getting picked up by all sorts of media, and we’re being contacted by more and more people.
I think the local CBS affiliate in Denver finally did some filming this morning with one of our members—very late to the party. Others have totally avoided the issue like they’ve been told not to report on it. Meanwhile, more and more pictures are coming in of damaged well pads and floating tanks
Judging from the industry comments on my blog, they were really hoping this part of the disaster wouldn’t get out in the news.
Flashback:
In 2011: – DeGette Committee Investigation Discovers High Volume of Toxic Chemicals in Fracking Fluids Used in Colorado:
WASHINGTON, DC — Today U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (CO-1) joined her colleagues, Reps. Henry A. Waxman and Edward J. Markey, in releasing a new report that provides the first comprehensive national inventory of chemicals used by hydraulic fracturing companies during the drilling process. The report revealed extraordinarily high levels of carcinogens being injected into the ground on fracking projects all across the country, with Colorado having some of the highest levels in the nation.
More info on fracking:
– Texas: The Worst Drought In Two Generations Is Choking Water Supply, Which Is Why Residents Now Turn Against Fracking
– ‘The Real Threat: Acid Jobs’
– Fracking Our Food Supply – Livestock Falling Ill In Fracking Regions
– David Letterman On Fracking: ‘We’re Screwed’ (Video)
– Human-Made Earthquakes Reported In Central U.S (Reuters)
– US Government Confirms Link Between Earthquakes And Fracking
– European Gas Giant Backs French Fear Of Fracking
– Texas Forces Firms To Open Up On ‘Fracking’
– Fracking Hell: Toxic And Radioactive Waste – The Untold Story
– The Oil and Gas Industry’s 800-Pound Gorilla: RADIATION!
– ‘Fracking’ Result (= Contamination) For UK Shale Gas Will Be Kept Secret Until 2015
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