How much longer?

21 Comments

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!

21 thoughts on “How much longer?”

Sir Robin says:

January 5, 2011 at 5:14 am

With the Republicans hiring lobbyists (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/08/AR2010120806221.html) to guide their votes, do ya think the publics seat is moving forward towards the main event, or back in to the shadows?

I’m watching with great interest how Hick is appointing, and how well he’ll be able to direct and control his administration.

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1. dukeco1 says:
  
  January 5, 2011 at 5:27 am
  
  I remember hearing that line of bullshit years ago, but I had forgotten.
  
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  1. Sir Robin says:
    
    January 6, 2011 at 3:21 am
    
    the bullshit we’re fed.
    
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    1. MADCO says:
      
      January 6, 2011 at 5:49 pm
      
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Ellie says:

January 5, 2011 at 6:03 am

with an all to familiar sad story and no happy ending in sight. Unfortunately, it takes major disasters for the legitimate news media to cover it with much more than a sidebar and government action to be more than a token response. I have no good solutions but diaries like this is a damn good way to keep the issue alive(and hopefully have positive results).

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Middle of the Road says:

January 5, 2011 at 5:59 pm

where the DeGette-Hinchey bill is at? Is it even on a schedule for a vote? Where is it in the process, at this point?

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1. dukeco1 says:
  
  January 5, 2011 at 6:26 pm
  
  I have the sense that it is dead in the water in the new Congress. But I have been distracted of late and I have lost track.
  
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  1. Middle of the Road says:
    
    January 5, 2011 at 6:29 pm
    
    Last time it still seemed to be alive and well was last June. Until the exemption is removed from the 2005 bill and companies are forced to publicly identify what the 900 plus chemicals are that are being used in fracking, these people have zero recourse through any state or federal agency for their health issues, poisoned wells and devalued property.
    
    Heard on NPR that 6,000 permits were issued last year to gas and oil–3rd highest in their history.
    
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  2. Middle of the Road says:
    
    January 6, 2011 at 3:35 am
    
    on the FRAC Act. I called DeGette’s office this afternoon and since it did not pass in 2010, it will need to be reintroduced in 2011 all over again. Waiting for some more info from Jen at the Denver office. I’ll get it to you when I receive it.
    
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    1. dukeco1 says:
      
      January 6, 2011 at 3:43 am
      
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Middle of the Road says:

January 5, 2011 at 6:06 pm

was read the comments at the end of the Independent’s article. I guess ignorance is bliss and wow, that’s some serious ignorance.

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Colorado Pols says:

January 5, 2011 at 7:36 pm

The Glenwood Springs Post-Independent is owned by Swift Communications, which is a party to the letter we received instructing us to not quote any of their material.

This is an important story, however, and we are working on including reference to it in a future post. If this post can be edited to remove all directly quoted material from the Post-Independent (you can paraphrase its content and provide a link), it might then be promotable as well.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

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1. MADCO says:
  
  January 5, 2011 at 10:36 pm
  
  I went to the “Posting Policies” in the right margin and just looked for “Post Independnet” not Glenwood Springs Post-Independent
  
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  1. redstateblues says:
    
    January 5, 2011 at 10:40 pm
    
    now you’re on the list…
    
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2. dukeco1 says:
  
  January 6, 2011 at 12:26 am
  
  Wasn’t sure about the headline. Please delete it if necessary to FP.
  
  Thanks Pols.
  
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  1. dukeco1 says:
    
    January 6, 2011 at 3:54 am
    
    I took out the headline, too. OK now?
    
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    1. Colorado Pols says:
      
      January 6, 2011 at 4:43 am
      
      We’ve promoted a couple of spots down from the top on the front page. Thanks for your edits, and we apologize again that they are necessary to begin with.
      
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      1. dukeco1 says:
        
        January 6, 2011 at 3:55 pm
        
        My staggering ignorance is only exceeded by my inept typing.
        
        But…we’ll muddle through…somehow.
        
        🙂
        
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ardy39 says:

January 5, 2011 at 10:11 pm

Duke, you’ve been contributing some fine and thoughtful diaries and comments lately.

We’ll have to see if the Garfield commissioners stick to their guns (now that Houpt is gone), heed the concerns of their constituents, and confront the COGCC.

My bet is that GarCo folds this week under the weight of COGA hyperbole and Antero misleading economic whining. Without a protestant, the COGCC will likely approve Antero’s spacing request. Then the world will be safe for poor beleaguered O&G corporate “people.”

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1. dukeco1 says:
  
  January 6, 2011 at 12:27 am
  
  Coming from you…I’m flattered. 🙂
  
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2. DavidThi808 says:
  
  January 6, 2011 at 6:46 am
  
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