In Texas, Sharon Wilson of Bluedaze documented drilling impacts through photography, air sampling, and persistent public records requests. Recognized as “Texan of the Year” by some outlets, she became a visible watchdog in a state at the epicenter of shale expansion. Her work grounded policy debates in field evidence.
Source: Capitol Annex (2007) Read More
As Houston mayor and 2010 gubernatorial candidate, Bill White faced scrutiny over his $2.6 million compensation from BJ Services, a gas well servicing company under congressional investigation for potential groundwater contamination linked to hydraulic fracturing. Environmental advocates, including Sharon Wilson of Earthworks’ Oil & Gas Accountability Project, questioned the alignment between White’s environmental record and his ties to the drilling industry amid mounting concerns over diesel use and hazardous waste in fracking operations.
Source: The Houston Chronicle - Houston & Texas News | Chron.com (2010) Read More
Reports documented Chesapeake Energy flaring natural gas at Barnett Shale wells — burning off excess production when pipeline capacity or market conditions limited transport. Flaring reduces immediate pressure but raises questions about waste, emissions, and infrastructure readiness during rapid expansion.
Source: YouTube (2009) Read More
Range Resources was among the early movers in developing the Marcellus Shale, helping demonstrate the viability of large-scale horizontal drilling in Pennsylvania. As production expanded, the company became both a symbol of shale’s promise and a participant in disputes over water contamination and oversight.
Source: Range Resources (2010) Read More
Bluedaze pushed for stronger oversight of oil and gas operations in Texas, challenging regulators and exposing gaps in enforcement. Through citizen monitoring and public reporting, the platform argued that reform required transparency — and that reform rarely arrives without pressure.
Source: Bluedaze (2009) Read More
In Decatur, Texas, the Ruggiero family described what changed after nearby drilling began — odors, noise, medical symptoms, uncertainty about air quality. State regulators conducted tests. Companies defended operations. For families living beside compressor stations, the energy boom was not macroeconomics — it was lived proximity.
Source: Earthworks (2012) Read More
At Rancho Los Malulos, satire met shale. Through humor and parody, the site skewered industry optimism and political doublespeak. Behind the jokes lay a serious critique: when official narratives grow polished, satire becomes a pressure valve — and sometimes a sharper mirror than straight reporting.
Source: Rancho Los Malulos (2009) Read More
Republicans for Environmental Protection challenged the idea that conservation belonged to one party. As shale politics hardened along partisan lines, REP argued for water safeguards and responsible oversight grounded in stewardship, not ideology. Their presence complicated the narrative: support for environmental protection did not neatly map onto party identity — even in energy-producing states.
Source: Republicans for Environmental Protection (2010) Read More
This video shows Texas Black Angus cattle drinking from drilling sludge pits at two different drilling sites in Denton County. I have witnessed cattle drinking from sludge pits regularly over the past few years.
Source: YouTube (2009) Read More
A Daily Kos report highlighted the case of Texas residents diagnosed with drilling chemicals in their blood and organs, prompting urgent health warnings and relocation. The story drew attention to emissions from oil and gas development and the availability of control technologies that could significantly reduce pollution if mandated. The article connected personal health concerns to broader regulatory debates, including calls to support the FRAC Act and strengthen protections under the Safe Drinking Water Act. It framed shale gas expansion as a public health issue extending beyond any single region.
Source: Daily Kos (2010) Read More
Last week was an active week for those following regulation of Marcellus Shale natural gas development.
Source: YouTube (2010) Read More
Let us see if we have this right: The tap water is bubbling in Parker County, carbonated with enough natural gas to make it as flammable as a French Quarter cocktail and as explosive as a hand grenade, and the Texas Railroad Commission — consulting its Advent calendar, no doubt — has scheduled a hearing on the matter for Jan. 10.
Source: Denton Record Chronicle (2010) Read More
On Martin Luther King Day (MLK Day Jan. 17, 2011), America deserves to be reminded that hard on the trail of King’s Civil Rights legacy in Alabama is the way Alabama’s poor have been victimized by negligent environmental law. The daily posts of Max Shelby and his group, blogging in Alabama about the environment, politics, big business and corruption, are some of the boldest independent voices writing in the U.S. on environmental justice today.
Source: Vincent Alabama Confidential (2010) Read More
If you plan to stop by these woods on a snowy evening bring some marshmallows and expect an evening sunburn. There’s a chance your treats will be toxic.
Source: YouTube (2008) Read More