– Exxon CEO Joins Suit Citing Fracking Concerns (Wall Street Journal, Feb 20, 2014):
Residents of Dallas Suburb Fight Construction of Tower That Would Provide Water for Drilling
BARTONVILLE, Texas—One evening last November, a tall, white-haired man turned up at a Town Council meeting to protest construction of a water tower near his home in this wealthy community outside Dallas.
The man was Rex Tillerson, chairman and chief executive of Exxon Mobil Corp.
He and his neighbors had filed suit to block the tower, saying it is illegal and would create “a noise nuisance and traffic hazards,” in part because it would provide water for use in hydraulic fracturing. Fracking, which requires heavy trucks to haul and pump massive amounts of water, unlocks oil and gas from dense rock and has helped touch off a surge in U.S. energy output.
It also is a core part of Exxon’s business.
…
– Exxon CEO troubled by fracking-related water tank in his neighbourhood (The Globe And Mail, Feb 24, 2014):
Tillerson fights tower
Rex Tillerson’s company may be a big player in fracking, but the chief executive of Exxon Mobil Corp. has a problem with what the related issues could mean to the value of his ranch.
The chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil Corp., a major player where the controversial technique is concerned, is among a group of citizens in Bartonville, near Dallas, who are opposing a massive tower that would supply water for fracking.
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, pumps water and chemicals underground to break up rock and push gas or oil to the surface, and there are huge environmental concerns surrounding the practice.
Citizens of Bartonville, described as a wealthy community, which you’d expect given that it houses the chief of Exxon, have sued to try to stop the tower.
Some have issues with what promises to be traffic and noise, according to what lawyer Michael Whitten told The Wall Street Journal, but Mr. Tillerson’s big beef is how it could affect the value of his spread.
The suit filed in the District Court of Denton County lists Bar RR Ranches and its owners, the Tillersons, as among the plaintiffs, along with others with high-value properties, against Bartonville Water Supply Corp., which is now Cross Timbers Water Supply Corp., and officials at the non-profit utility.
“Bar RR is a large horse ranch located immediately adjacent to the BWSC property in question,” the suit says.
“Bar RR has a fair market value in excess of $5-million. It is improved with homes, barns, and a state-of-the-art horse-training facility.”
According to the Wall Street Journal last week, Cross Timbers had an initial permit turned down, but won on appeal. The municipality is now appealing.
“Each of the homeowners built or purchased their homes in Bartonville to live in an upscale community free of industrial properties, tall buildings, and other structures that might devalue their properties and adversely impact the rural lifestyle they sought to enjoy,” the suit says.
The water tank will soar 160 feet, with a capacity of 750,000 gallons, and this wasn’t what residents bought into, the suit says.
The chief of the utility told the Wall Street Journal the region is one of “high water usage” – you know, swimming pools, gardens, big lawns, horses, cows and even goats – but it will be selling water that’s left over to energy firms during periods of lower demand.
Cross Timbers is also fighting back against Bartonville residents, complaining, for example, over a “misleading” ad from the North Bartonville Citizens Association, saying the tank is necessary and that its board’s “only goal is to ensure that the membership has a safe and adequate supply of water.”
More info on fracking:
– Fracking Is Draining Water From US Areas Suffering Major Shortages
– Fracking’s Terrifying Water Usage Trends Spell Disaster
– Prof. Chris Busby For RT: Wrecking The Earth: Fracking Has GRAVE RADIATION Risks Few Talk About
– 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
In UK we have a term NIMBY for this type of hypocrite.
I don’t know if the acronym emigrated to the more spacious USA, but it means
NOT IN MY BACK YARD