The Fossil Fuel Connection (LINK TV)

Dr. Theo Colborn speaks here about the effects of fossil fuel extraction, both vertical and horizontal drilling, and the dangerous chemicals that are released into the air during the drilling process.   Every time.   Methane is not the only or biggest worry.  Fear toluene and benzene!  The damage to healthy children is a big concern.

Fracking: Water Quality

Dr. Sandra Steingraber, author and college professor, speaks about her well water in the Ithaca, NY, area, and asks important questions which have not yet been answered. Shouldn't we hold off on fracking until we know the answers, she asks?

Hydrofracking: A Personal Testimony and Warning

Silica dust in the air

Hello: My name is Carl L. Mc Williams, I am married to Karen and we live in Garfield County, Colorado. There are over 10,000 active CH4 (methane) gas wells inside Garfield County, Colorado.

I spent one full year working on these CH4 wells. I was employed by  LONKAR US LTD. a Canadian company and I worked on a "swabbing rig". We were not part of the exploration (drilling). We serviced existing and producing natural gas wells. A swabbing rig is a "workover-rig" and our purpose was to remove water from the well that had stopped the flow of natural gas in a producing well. It turns out that the water we were removing was residual "fracing" water and we were never informed of the benzene and other chemicals that exist in this "production water".

In March of 2008, my swabbing rig was working on a well site where the gas company had reused the same "fracing" fluids in an attempt to save money. The problem with that is the reusing of "fracing" fluids causes the manifestation of H2S, (Hydrogen Sulfide Gas) which, in doses above 50 ppm for 30 minutes is deadly. My co-worker died and I spent three months in recovery. My employer and the billion dollar energy company basically lied and covered-up their gross negligence in ordering my co-worker and I to expose ourselves to the deadly H2S without proper safety equipment, such as supplied-air-respirators. Federal OSHA fined my employer. I blew the whistle to OSHA and was fired for doing so. My whistleblower case with OSHA is still pending and I have been black-balled from the industry.

That said, I do want to bring to your attention a very deadly practice that is taking place on every "fracing" job site. "Fracing" uses silica sand in the "fracing mix". The truck drivers, pulling "sand-cans" (box-car-size-trailers) full of silica sand arrive at the well site and using high pressure pumps unload from the "sand-cans" the silica sand into the "fracing tanks". During this process there is created a silica sand dust cloud that is much more dangerous than asbestos. Just as cut glass will lacerate the flesh of your arm, this silica sand dust is an airborne particulate, that when breathed into the lungs will cause lung damage that is a quicker death than asbestos exposure and extremely painful for the victim.

I informed Federal OSHA of this danger to Americans but nothing has happened from OSHA yet.

Therefore, I am informing you folks. The gas drilling industry has an expression: "WELL-FIELD-TRASH". The corporate officers of the natural gas industry considers all of their well workers to be "TRASH". The worker safety-protection measures on these gas well sites is non-existent.

Pass the word about the silica sand dust these Americans are breathing

Carl McWilliams
Silt Mesa, Colorado

This piece was originally published here.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) In Dryer Sheets

Baby, watch out!

This blog is usually all about un-natural gas drilling and the chemical hazards related to it.  Today news comes across my desk that in our own homes scented laundry products, for example, dryer sheets, have been found to contain hazardous chemicals.  Read more......

My Water's On Fire (The Fracking Song)

This music video is great!  David Holmes, Andrew Bean, and Niel Bekker and others collaborated on this effort. Congratulations to all involved!