If you attended last week’s town hall meeting in Azle and weren’t satisfied with the silent stares and lack of information coming from the seemingly useless panel of state regulators, you’ll soon have another opportunity to get some satisfaction.
The Texas Railroad Commission wasn’t interested in sharing information, but some local activist groups are more than willing.
Earthworks’ Oil & Gas Accountability Project, the North Central Texas Communities Alliance, and former DISH mayor turned activist Calvin Tillman are inviting residents to attend a meeting to find out how to force regulators to do their jobs and protect property and communities.
“(RRC) needs to stop delaying and take swift action to protect North Texans from fracking earthquakes,” Texas Sharon Wilson wrote on her BlueDaze blogsite. “At a recent town hall meeting in Azle Texas, residents called for fracking to stop while the RRC dodged answering questions and ducked out early to watch football.”
The groups noted the dissatisfaction among those attending the town hall meeting, and decided to host their own and to openly discuss the things that the regulators wouldn’t.
“Don’t ask questions, demand answers,” Wilson said. “Learn how. Come to the Azle Community Center on Jan 13th.”
The meeting to “force our ‘regulators’ to do their jobs and protect our property and communities” begins at 6:30 p.m. on Monday at Azle Community Center, 404 W. Main St.
Paradise lost?
All of the drilling, draining of the lakes, poisoned wells, gas wells, pump stations, constant army of 18 wheeler traffic and noise has ruined the quality of life. Once a quiet peaceful area with many beautiful lakes has been ruined by drought and drilling. Residents in the Azle & Weatherford areas were helplessly invaded and left frustrated before the earthquakes started.
The fracking companies associates ARE attending these meetings. Secretly checking the “temperature” of the residents. They are stepping up security at their facilities to protect their employees from possible retaliation.
So far the damages have been minimal. Other than a few poisoned wells the damages are limited to broken windows, cracked drywall and entry doors not locking or sticking.
These companies know from experience that the residents are helpless and harmless as long as they are divided by settling a few lawsuits and legally binding the information. Everyone including the gas and fracking companies greatest fear is a stronger earthquake that kills someone.
Hopefully the “experimental” dump wells on these fault lines don’t create more than another nuisance.
Personal observations from a helpless and harmless resident.