Fracking at Wood Gas Pad in Dimock

by Vera Scroggins   6/6/2013

This is the Fracking Stage and see all the sand dust in clouds above the site and hear all the noise and see the huge , above-ground impoundment/pool for water for the fracking where the trucks unload their water.

Citizen Journalist Vera Talks With a Gas Worker (PA)

Published on Aug 27, 2012 by veraduerga

Taped 8-27-12. Young Gas Worker tells me that gas drilling is safe and not to worry.

My comment:  This young man is typical of the sheep that work in the gas industry, sheep because they question nothing and trust that the PA DEP will protect everyone.  These people are blustery, rude, and naive without realizing it.  They seem to want to intimidate others.  His biggest concern is that the gas industry brings jobs.  Good point, however most of these jobs are low-paying and many are temporary with no benefits and are extremely dangerous to workers.  Furthermore, this guy, when asked if jobs are worth destroying the future for our kids and grandkids, seemed to poo-poo the thought and wanted Vera to think this was a ridiculous notion.  He did not know to whom he was speaking- obviously.  As usual, great reporting, Vera.

My heart goes out to people who need good jobs.  I can understand why they would take jobs in the gas industry, but it is a doomed situation.  With no good air or water there will be no way to live in these areas and therefore no jobs or people around to take them. 

Frac Sand Mine Troubles Maiden Rock (WI) Residents

Maiden Rock, Wisconsin, residents tell about what is happening near their homes. A frac sand mine has taken over their lives in many respects. It's not just gas wells that are ruining the earth. Other industries related to gas drilling are also creating enormous problems for people. This is just another example.

Signs and symptoms of silicosis:
Because chronic silicosis is slow to develop, signs and symptoms may not appear until years after exposure. Signs and symptoms include:
Dyspnea (shortness of breath) exacerbated by exertion
Cough, often persistent and sometimes severe
Fatigue
Tachypnea (rapid breathing) which is often labored
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Chest pain
Fever
Gradual dark shallow rifts in nails eventually leading to cracks as protein fibers within nail beds are destroyed.

Ever hear of silicosis?

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.