11 Jun ICYMI: Important News Stories from the Last Few Weeks

June 10, 2014 –

From time to time, we’ll bring you important news stories, new reports, and other relevant information about irresponsible oil and gas development locally, regionally, and nationally. In this installment, confirmed well water contamination from fracking in Texas, a new report finds natural gas is worse that oil and coal for the climate, and an in-depth economic analysis that suggests the shale boom will soon go bust.

The North Fork Delegation prepares for their meeting with BLM senior staff.
Photo credit: Landon Deane.

KVNF Local Motion: North Fork Representatives Travel to DC to Thank BLM, Elected Officials
Members of the CHC-sponsored community delegation that traveled to Washington, DC in May discuss their trip with KVNF’s Ali Lightfoot. LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW

Economics – When Will the Shale Boom go Bust?
Two important articles in Bloomberg & Bloomberg BusinessWeek examine how junk bonds are fueling the shale boom and how drilling companies are sinking more and more cash into capital investments at a loss. “Who can, or will want to, fund the drilling of millions of acres and hundreds of thousands of wells at an ongoing loss?” Ivan Sandrea, a research associate at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies in England, wrote in a March report. “The benevolence of the U.S. capital markets cannot last forever.”

Click the video to watch the report
from Dallas local news – ABC 8.
Photo credit: WFAA ABC 8.

ABC 8 – Dallas: Tests prove fracking to blame for flaming Parker County wells
After reviewing state data, scientists confirm that the gas in Steve Lipsky’s water well is the same as the fracked gas being produced in two nearby gas wells. State regulators failed to protect his water supply from oil and gas drillers. “Unless people get off the couch and vote or do something, who’s going to stop them from continuing doing what they are doing?” Lipsky said. READ MORE

Center for Western Priorities: Spill Mapper Feature Launched
How many spills happen in Colorado from the oil and gas industry? It’s more than one a day. LEARN MORE

High Country News: Fracking researchers turn to crowdfunding
Researchers are increasingly turning to crowdfunding to raise money for studies of fracking and its impacts. One researcher is currently seeking funding for a project to determine if fracking contaminates water with endocrine-disrupting chemicals. READ MORE

An active drill rig was the backdrop
for graduation ceremonies in Greeley.
Photo credit: WFAA ABC 8.

Colorado Pols: Happy Fracking Graduation, Greeley!
The backdrop to high school graduation for seniors at Greeley Central and Northridge High Schools was an active well pad immediately next to the football stadium. READ MORE

Western Values Project Report: American Natural Gas Goes Up in Flames
A new report from the Western Values Project finds that unnecessary flaring (i.e. the burning of gas at the well site) is costing taxpayers millions in uncollected royalties and needlessly wasting energy supplies. “Some estimates place the value of natural gas flared or vented nationwide every year at over $1 billion. These estimates are most likely low, however, as recent reports suggest that in North Dakota alone, industry is wasting over $100 million in gas per month.” READ MORE

The massive mudslide near Collbran nearly consumed an active gas well.
Photo credit: Bruce Gordon, EcoFlight.

High Country News: Massive Colorado mudslide nearly clobbered gas wells
The tragic and massive landslide near Colbran the other week nearly wiped out active gas wells in the area. The Grand Mesa has a history of frequent and sometimes very large slides and rockfalls. Does it really make sense to put new gas wells on and near these unstable slopes and geologically hazardous areas? READ MORE AT HCN & LISTEN TO A REPORT ABOUT THE GRAND MESA’S GEOLOGY ON KVNF

Wall Street Journal: The Fracking Fight’s New Front Line
“As the U.S. oil-and-gas boom rolls into its second decade, a new idea is starting to resonate with regulators and communities: Certain places should simply be off-limits to drilling.” READ MORE

NY Times: Jane Kleeb vs. the Keystone Pipeline
Inspiring story of rural community organizing in Nebraska against the Keystone XL pipeline. “Like we’re not smart enough to figure out they’re screwing us,” said Randy Thompson, “a lifelong Republican who had never done anything more political than vote” and now a lead figure in the local movement against the Keystone XL. “I had my eyes closed for a long time,” he went on. “But they’re open now.” READ MORE

Boulder Weekly: Natural Gas – A Bridge to Nowhere
Leaks in the natural gas exploration, production, and distribution network are a huge problem. “A Cornell professor says that new research shows that coal and oil are less harmful to the environment when it comes to greenhouse gases than natural gas.” READ MORE