Fracking Concerns Worry Residents Targeted By Oil & Gas Production

CBS4
Paul Day
Oct 21 2011
AGATE, Colo. (CBS4) – Rick Blotter harvests late-season corn from his backyard organic garden. Nearby, a couple goats are tended by his wife Bev.

Where the couple lives — in the community of Agate in rural Elbert County — is surrounded by pristine ranchland. The Blotters are desperate to protect their retirement home from oil and gas production. National companies are already negotiating leases in the area.

“We’re just looking for good land that may be productive in the future,” says Kelsey Campbell, a spokeswoman for Chesapeake Energy.

Chesapeake — America’s No. 1 driller of natural gas — already has operations in Weld County. But it is among a growing number of oil and gas producers eyeing areas along the Front Range that have not traditionally been drilled, including Elbert County, Arapahoe County and Douglas County.

“I could imagine them leveling this out and putting a pad here,” he says.

VIDEO SERIES
Watch Environmental Specialist Paul Day’s video reports for this story below:

• Part I
• Part II
• Part III

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Elbert County Colorado - Unknown and Potentially Deadly Consequences

ACTION ALERT! Make 2 phone calls on Tuesday, September, 13, 2011, and protect Elbert County from the unknown and potentially deadly consequences of "fracking" by BIG Oil & Gas Corporations.

Action Steps That Must be Taken on Tuesday, September 13th, 2011 . . . Call President Obama at 1-888-498-2945 and the Democratic National Committee at 1-866-942-5148 and ask them to support measures to ban fracking in the United States until . . . the oil and gas industry's exemption from public health and safety laws is removed (They currently have a unique exemption from the Safe Water Drinking Act, the Clean Air Act, CERCLA Superfund Act, and 5 other federal regulations) and federally funded research can establish the scope of harm to date and the technology can be improved to avoid these serious threats BIG Oil & Gas Companies like Chesapeake Energy, Conoco and others threaten to RAPE Elbert County of our natural resources, quality of life and the safety of the drinking water we desparately depend on. France has already banned fracking in their country. Why? Water safety and security Security of ranchland and farmland Uncontrollable methane gas escape that is poisoning wells and aquifers and creating ozone worse than coal emissions Earthquakes associated with deep oil well storage of wastewater Serious water and air pollution that is causing a huge threat to public health and saftety And the list goes on and on . . . But how can this be in America? Don't be stupid . . . just follow the money of record profits in BIG Oil & Gas Corporations and their kickbacks to local and state government and you will have your answer. The Obama Administration recently said that it will seriously consider petitions/call in drives that involve more than 5000 people. Please encourage your family members and friends to call on Tuesday, September 13, 2011! If they see a HUGE call in for banning fracking altogether, maybe we will at least get more traction on reguests to regulate it! Sincerely,   Citizens for Elbert County Say, "Hello my name is _______, I live in (City, State) and I oppose hydraulic fracturing." ... If the phone lines get jammed, send an email through the White House Contact page at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact

Historic Citizen Complaint "Dying Trees from O&G Activities" - Images from 1993 -2006 - Coincidence?

On August 2nd 1996, Mr. Arnold Coggins filed a formal complaint report form with the COGCC and Diamond Back Oil Corp., and the State Forestry.  Mr. Coggin's handwritten concern is typed, (incomplete) below and in its original form copied below.

"Dying cottonwood trees in lowland next to Box Elder Creek. Alleged/question potential for historic O&G releases to have impacted shallow ground water as cause of death/stress." - Mr. Coggins  


"D. Baldwin Collected water samples from---- and background sample from housewell - no sign of impact - good quality water, no further action required."


CLICK ON ANY DOCUMENT OR IMAGE TO INCREASE SIZE

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We are concerned with the water test results that were conducted at the time of this alleged incident.

It appears that TDS, sodium, sulfates, nitrate, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride and other general elements were the only chemical concentrations tested. Although these elements can be harmful in high concentrations it is beyond us why they appear to have NOT tested for BTEX, or TEPH. 

Below is a copy of the original 'Analytical Services Requested' from  COGCC regarding Mr. Coggin's water and it shows quite clearly that BTEX and TPEH were not among the toxic contaminants tested. Why were these chemicals not requested for testing? (highlighted in red)

Click image to enlarge
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API Number: 05-039-06546 Name:COGGINS #10-16
Location: SESE 10 6S 64W Lat: 39.53698 Long: -104.53468
Operator #: 88348 Operator Name:
Inspection Date: 8/8/1996 Inspector: DEBBIE BALDWIN
Inspection was: No Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Indicator
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Insp. Type: Insp. Stat: Reclamation (Pass, Interim or Fail): P&A (Pass/Fail):
Brhd. Pressure: Inj. Pressure: T-C Ann. Pressure: UIC Violation Type:
Violation: NOAV Sent: Date Corrective Action Due: Date Remedied: 10/4/1996
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Field Inspection Comments and Observations
Insp. Comment Inspection/Violation Comments

HISTORICAL A COGGIN, LANDOWNER, COMPLAINED THAT IMPACTS TO SHALLOW GROUND WATER FROM HISTORIC O&G ACTIVITIES WERE CAUSING TREES ALON BOX ELDER CREEK TO DIE. BALDWIN COLLECTED WATER SAMPLE FROM SEEP IN AREA & HOUSE WELL=BACKGROUND SAMPLE, RESULTS SHOW NO IMPACT FROM O&G = VERY GOOD WATER QUALITY, NO FURTHER ACTION NECESSARY

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Now let's take a look at historic aerial photographs from 1993-2006 where you can be the judge on the landowner's once claim. Coincidence?

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