Witness Blog
American Lung Association Warns of “unseen hazards” of Methane
The American Lung Association just put out a strong statement on the danger of methane noting the unseen hazards of methane and the “cascade of risks” that harm communities. “As the colder months settle in and we spend more time indoors, it’s crucial to recognize the unseen hazards that methane...
Our Methane Blindspot
Methane is getting some attention as we also learn new information on the severity of the problem of methane emissions in the oil and gas industry. Unfortunately, despite all of the good intentions (e.g. better monitoring via satellites, oil company promises, etc) methane emissions continue to rise. Sharon Wilson continues...
101: Methane emissions. Unintentional Leaks vs Intentional Releases
Unintentional leaks of methane are the side show. Intentional releases, required by design, are the problem. Analysis of industry’s own data, which we know is underreported*, shows that only 6% of the methane released is from unintentional leaks. The rest, 94%, is intentional. Page 6. Benchmarking...
Texas Must Address its Oilfield Air Pollution Problem
Earlier this month our team went out on shrimp boats in the Gulf to observe emissions from liquefied natural gas export terminals in Louisiana. While the main concern of the shrimpers is that since the export terminal was built, shrimp catches have fallen dramatically, they also get a front seat...
The Texas Oil and Gas Story: Profits Over People and the Planet
There were many alarming facts in the recent study “High rates of hydrogen sulfide emissions measured from marginal oil wells near Austin and San Antonio, Texas,” published in Environmental Research Communications. However, all of the problems can be linked back to a fact stated in the study. “We did not...
Technical limitations of satellite and regulations in stopping methane.
Don't use satellites and regulations as delay tactics Sitting on a stone bench on my Wise County farm. Way back when I lived on a farm in Wise County Texas watching fracking pioneer George Mitchell experiment with combining horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing to produce oil...
Gen Z: Our future is not in our own hands
Written by Jack McDonald When I was 19, I testified in front of the EPA. I spoke about my personal experience living on the Barnett Shale where the fracking boom originated, but I also spoke about the looming threat of climate change that weighs on my entire generation. Based on...
101: Understanding the Texas Oil and Gas Pollution Permits
Written by Jack McDonald Each green dot represents as well permitted by the Texas Railroad CommissioPollution is built into the American environmental protection framework. Even in circumstances where the environment is already damaged, our regulations allow new facilities to be built in the same area–doubling down...
“Please?” Oil companies wield extreme control over Texas agencies.
by Miguel Escoto Regulatory commissioners vote to approve a dangerous oil industry wastewater disposal pit next to a children’s summer camp and Baptist conference center, but then ask the owner to “be a good neighbor” to the summer camp. June 2nd, 2024, Sharon and I visited the Circle...
Cautioning against the optimism of the EIA flaring data
By Jack McDonald Flaring by Skytruth How can the EIA rely on state data if the vast majority of flaring in Texas is unknown to the RRC? Last week, the EIA published their preliminary estimate of the amount of natural gas flaring that happened across the...