January 05, 2011 04:53 AM UTC

How much longer?

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• by: Duke Cox

(Bumped from Tuesday’s diaries – promoted by Colorado Pols)

I just got an e-mail with an interesting story from John Colson of the Glenwood Springs paper.

A family on Silt Mesa, near the town of Silt Colorado, has become the most recent case of serious medical issues suffered by people in close proximity to natural gas drilling. Beth Strudleys’ doctor told her that she should take her family and leave their home. A few weeks ago one of her children started suffering nosebleeds, rashes and began having blackouts.

Now other family members are starting to have similar symptoms. Recently, her doctor told her he suspects exposure to chemicals is the cause.

How much longer is this going to continue before the people of Colorado put a stop to this, once and for all? This system of denial and lack of accountability will continue until the voters of Colorado make it clear to the COGCC, the Governor, and the legislature that the public has a right to know what chemicals are being put into the ground. The O&G industry has always hidden behind the mantle of proof…which cannot be accomplished because the government doesn’t make them tell us WHAT they pump into the earth.

 My wife and I left Silt Mesa three years ago. I knew a little bit more about what was coming than most folks. I tried to warn our neighbors… but, money talks louder than reason.

The event that settled our decision was the letter we received from our family doctor, informing us he was moving his family to Vermont because he didn’t think Rifle would ever again be a healthy place to live. I guess he reasoned there isn’t much gas to be found in granite.

In her comments to the Garfield County Commissioners, Mrs. Strudley brought up the recent death of former Rifle resident, Chris Mobaldi, who died a few weeks ago from her third pituitary tumor. Many people, including the Mobaldis’ physician, believe Chris was sickened by a poorly maintained gas well across the road from their house.  

I have made no secret of my anger and outrage at the callous treatment of Colorados’ citizens by some, I repeat, SOME, of the players in this gas patch. Antero, at one time, seemed to be on a path that led to a better relationship with the Rifle/Silt/ New Castle Community. I am disappointed in their response.

But it was the response of the Garco commissioners that is most telling about the way the Rig-hugging Repubs of Garfield County handle such things. They chose to not say a thing…except… NEXT!