A Fort Worth Call For A To HALT Seismic Testing Now

You are looking at what a 30" water pipeline looks like when it breaks. This particular breach occurred in Fort Worth near Sycamore Park, on July 14, 2011.

Last week Don Young emailed an open letter to Fort Worth Councilwoman, Kathleen Hicks, about the Seismic Testing taking place all over East Fort Worth, to the growing dismay of many of the seismically shaken residents.

This morning Don Young sent out a followup open letter to Kathleen Hicks. This letter details the very legitimate concerns of those who are experiencing the Seismic Testing.....

Dear Councilwoman Kathleen Hicks-

It has been more than a week since I requested that Seismic Testing be halted in Fort Worth until the public has proof that it is safe, legal and cost-free to all residents. However, testing is still underway and many of your District 8 constituents are concerned.

Our primary concern is that the City of Fort Worth relied too heavily on information provided by the drilling industry or one of its partners when issuing a testing permit to Dawson Geophysical. We are also concerned that because the City is in business with Chesapeake, XTO, etc. and depends on them for City revenue, that an appearance of conflict of interest exists that may affect prudent decision making.

The concerns I spelled out in my message dated July 9 are very real. For example, the huge water main break near Sycamore Park that occurred last week may have been at least partially caused by seismic testing that occurred in that area. That leak affected thousands of homeowners and wasted a lot of public water during drought conditions. A water department spokesperson could not say for certain the cause of the breach.

There was a similar report back in May, 2011 of a water line break in the Westcliff West neighborhood while thumper trucks were in the area.

How many other events such as this have been caused by seismic testing? Is the City keeping tabs and connecting dots?

I have also received the following reports from concerned residents as a result of my email from last week:

- Seismic testing is going on in Wedgwood where neighborhoods remain un-leased. There is no protection in place for homeowners should damage occur to their property. Also, companies can use information gathered against the mineral owners in future negotiations.  TT

- This (Seismic testing) has the markings of potential disaster for existing utilities. Exhibit A is that Atmos has a number of older gas service lines that need immediate replacement in North Texas, due to parts that weaken with age. How well would those weak gas service lines respond to nearby seismic testing? I'm afraid to find out the hard way, and those in Government should be, too! There's estimated to be 500,000 of such weak gas lines around North Texas, so it's a gamble to do seismic testing around them.  MH

- I would therefore request an explanation as to what authority they (Dawson) are using to explore the property that I paid for and own outright.  The testing creates massive vibration of the area and would appear to possibly damage roads, foundations and any other structure within proximity to the source of vibrations.  It is not a risk I wish to see if it damages anything, like my property.  It is likely damage may not appear immediately or be apparent until sometime in the future.  It would then become my burden to prove what the source of the damage actually was.  As we have seen repeatedly, any damage would be denied by any and all parties involved. JA

- From what I remember, Texas homeowners policies exempt payments for damages from seismic activity. Check out your policy. Bad stuff, that seismic crap. LM

- They (Dawson) have also recently been in the Westcliff West neighborhood.  In the process, they broke a water line on Encanto Drive, depriving residents of water for hours. GA

- They went through our neighborhood in Arlington in May, the noise was horrendous, some neighbors complained that their houses were shaking, cracks appeared , and one person told me that their toddler found the shaking of their house very distressing and cried inconsolably. RB

- This (seismic testing) felt like collective rape on Winifred Drive Friday afternoon. The dishes in my cabinets were rattling; the dogs were freaking out. I thought it was Armageddon, as did my neighbors. I was livid and expressed it to the police escort and the lady in the Lexus following them who the police told me would "tell me what it was all about." I emailed Jungus that afternoon as well as the lawyers at Riddle and Williams.  KE

- Thanks for the support. I have not signed a lease and I do not want someone taking picture under my property. A friend told them not to take any picture under his property that he is not signed a lease agreement. They had already taken a couple of pictures before he stopped them. So he asked them if he can get the pictures from there company. They said NO. This is invasion of our property and I will get in contact with the company and request my pictures. JL

- On the morning of July 4, 2011, I was alarmed by a sound I'd not heard before. Looking out my front window, I saw at least three huge trucks, with the sign DAWSON on them. Their loudness, and their presence, stunned me - the ground shook!! I went out my front door and was further surprised to see a man kneeling over paperwork at the end of my walkway (25 feet from my door, 35 feet from the street). I asked him what he was doing, and I told him he was within the easement of the property. He said I could talk his boss, and he nodded toward a tall young man, who then came from the street to where I was, and he asked me if there was a problem. I asked him what they were doing, and he said they were "x-raying" the ground. (He said they were "x-raying" downtown also.) I asked him who he worked for, and he replied, "Chesapeake."

I told him I had not given permission for them to be on my property, and  I asked if he could show me anything that gave him permission to do so? He said that if I didn't want them on my property, they could go across the street and get the information they needed. The two of them left my property. ( I don't know, but  they may already have gotten a "reading," or whatever they wanted,  from my location.)

If I had been given notice of their coming, and/or had received a request that they come onto my property,  I could have checked on my rights in such an instance.  I think perhaps that is exactly why we  were NOT given advance notice--so Chesapeake could have access, without permission.  Such permission, from some citizens such as myself, had they asked, they are not likely to have been given.  SR

- I asked an attorney. They have NO right to conduct seismic testing if you have not leased. Further, they have no right to conduct seismic testing even if you have leased unless it is covered in the lease or an agreement has been made. He said that usually the language in the leases is vague enough that it confers them the right but they definitely do NOT have the right if you are not leased.  DD

Specifically, we request that that Seismic Testing be halted immediately unless and until you provide the following:

1. Third-party documentation proving it is safe to all life-forms, including people, pets, wildlife and livestock.
2. Third-party documentation addressing impact to public roadways and utilities .
3. Property owner compensation for data already accessed from their land without consent.
4. Documentation showing that private pipeline, telephone, cable TV and electric companies, etc. have OK'd the testing without caveats.
5. Minutes from all FW Water and Street Dept. meetings where seismic testing was discussed.
6. Documentation from the City legal department identifying the responsible party in case of any reported damage.
7. An explanation of your statement that "properties are protected from damage."
8. The City plan for compensation in cases where damage occurs in the near and long term.
9. Proof that homeowners' insurance will not be impacted by seismic testing.

Thanks for your attention to this urgent matter.

Don Young

The Arrogance Of Seismic Testing

I have mentioned previously being a bit perplexed by all the Barnett Shale Seismic Testing cable that has been strewn all over East Fort Worth.

I've wondered how permission is granted to run the cable across streets and resident's property.

And then last week, on the east side of the Tandy Hills, I saw a phalanx of trucks like you see in the picture, making an incredibly loud racket. I wondered at the time what this was like for the people in their homes a short distance from the racket makers.

Well, today Don Young emailed me, and others, an open letter to City Councilwoman, Kathleen Hicks, she being the councilwoman representing the district in which the Tandy Hills lies.

Included in the email were three pictures with captions. The caption for the above photo was "Heavy industry invades my neighborhood: Meadowbrook Drive @ Sanderson, FW, TX, July 2011."

Below is Don Young's letter to Fort Worth City Councilwoman, Kathleen Hicks and below that, two more photos with captions....

Dear Councilwoman Kathleen Hicks-

My neighbors and I are very concerned about a massive seismic testing operation/experiment currently underway in our neighborhoods. Dawson Geophysical, a subcontractor for the private, for-profit companies, Chesapeake and XTO Energy, are using public streets and ROW's to gather seismic data from a vast area.

They are also gathering this data from under private property for their own, for-profit uses. Many of us did not give permission for Dawson to gather this data from under our properties. You wrote in a message to the West Meadowbrook NA on July 8 that, quote, "If a City property has not been leased, no seismic testing is allowed." Please explain why testing is allowed under our private property without permission and how sound waves can distinguish leased from un-leased property.

You also wrote that, quote. "... properties are protected against damage." Will you please provide a detailed plan on how public and private property will be protected from damages. What is your plan for compensation in cases where damage occurs in the near and long-term?

As our council representative for District 8, we request that you provide scientific documentation proving seismic testing is safe for people, wildlife, pets and sub-surface life forms, both short and long term and in an urban environment - that it will not cause hearing loss, discomfort, brain hemorrhage or other biological or psychological impacts to humans and other life forms.

Additionally, we request documentation that proves seismic testing will not harm slab foundations, public streets, sidewalks, plumbing, sprinkler systems, utilities, septic systems, water wells, electronic devices and other public and private property in any way including, causing subsidence, cracks, wear and tear or any other negative impacts.

We also request proof that our homeowners' insurance will not be impacted in any way by seismic testing including, increased rates or reduced liability coverage.

It is essential that this documentation come from an independent, third-party, peer-reviewed source and not from the gas drilling industry, City of FW or any other party who benefits financially from drilling or seismic testing. It is important that the document demonstrate that such testing is safe in an urban environment and has been monitored for a period of at least five years. It is imperative that this proof be provided in a timely manner since the City has already issued permits and testing is underway.

You may be aware that a sizable number of property owners within the seismic testing area did NOT sign a mineral lease. Many who did sign regret signing for various reasons or believe they did so under duress or without all the facts. Others rightfully believe they were misled by or lied to by land-men working for the same companies now doing the seismic testing. Still others doubt the City did due diligence before allowing seismic testing putting an unfair burden on the residents of FW.

In fact, the City did not require environmental testing prior to allowing drilling to proceed by ordinance. City Attorney, Sarah Fullenwider, stated publicly in 2006 that, because the State does not require environmental impact assessments the City would not require them either. Ongoing research indicates that urban and rural drilling is dangerous to public health, safety, the environment and can reduce property value and marketability.

Because the City did not see fit to require independent environmental impact assessments for drilling, pipelines and other NG production in an urban setting and in ALL zoning classes, how can we expect they did so for seismic testing?

We need answers from you in order to protect ourselves, our pets and property. If you cannot provide the documents requested within one weeks time, we expect an immediate halt to all seismic testing on public property until such evidence is available that proves testing is safe.

Respectfully-
Don Young

 You can feel them coming from blocks away. They stop about every 50' to "thump" the ground.

The vibrations from the giant "foot" on all three vehicles literally shakes the teeth in your head when applied to the street.

Creating The Illusion Of Hiking The Tandy Hills In Texas While Possibly Being In Washington

90 degrees with 30% humidity when I hit the Tandy Hills today around noon.

I saw something today on Martel Avenue, on the way to the top of Mount Tandy, that I had not seen before.

Martel Avenue runs north and south on the east side of the Tandy Hills.

Today the Barnett Shale seismic testers were out in force on Martel Avenue. Complete with police protection.

And a lot of high tech equipment. Several trucks had generators running, at least that is what I assume was making the noise. Under the trucks were metal disks about 4 feet in diameter.

My co-hiker know-it-all informed me that those disks sent out a high frequency vibration into the underground formations, then other devices collected the info that bounced back.

There were more high tech seismic testing trucks on the road that leads to the top of Mount Tandy. Way too much activity going on in my usually peaceful sanatorium.

It has been days since we got as hot as 100 in my location. Currently it is only 93. Meanwhile, right now, up in my old location in Washington it is 61 degrees.

Speaking of Washington. I have gotten feedback from a few people who for some reason are assuming I am up in Washington right now.

It occurs to me that it would be easy to be up in Washington, right now, while creating the blogging illusion that I am still in Texas hiking the Tandy Hills.

If I were up in Washington, surreptitiously, right now, it would not be the first time. In August of 2001 I drove, solo, to Washington for my mom and dad's 50th Anniversary party. Mom and dad's anniversary is August 6, Hiroshima Day, the party was August 11, my birthday.

Only my two oldest nephews knew I was going to make it to mom and dad's 50th. If I remember right I took off for Washington on August 1, making it to Seattle on August 3.

I remember there had been a high school reunion a week prior to my departure. I've no memory of why I did not drive up a week earlier to attend that reunion.

My nephews kept the secret of me being in Washington. I arrived at the location of the anniversary party, my sister's house in Kent, a couple hours late. When I arrived at my sister's I called to make a happy anniversary call as I walked to my sister's front door. As I was talking to my mom, my dad suspected I was there and and opened the front door just as I rang the doorbell.

It was a special moment.

So, yeah, I guess I have a history of going north to Washington whilst creating the illusion I am in Texas.

The Tandy Hills Guerrilla Art Installation Has Been Removed As Seismic Testing Spreads All Over East Fort Worth

Does my one longtime blog reader notice what is missing in the picture?

Yes, you are correct, the Tandy Hills Guerrilla Art Installation, called Orange Flags in Feces, has been completely removed, including the orange ribbon that was tied to the adjacent bush.

Was the removal of this Art Installation an act of counter eco-terrorism?

I do not know if the orange flags are associated with the Barnett Shale Natural Gas Seismic Testing that seems to be spreading all over East Fort Worth.

It is very odd. Every day I seem to see cable in new locations. But I have yet to see anyone laying the cable. One would think I would, since it is quite an effort the cable layers go through.

Duct tape secures the cable across driveways, more elaborate cable covers are used where the cable crosses a street. And then there are the prong things that get stuck in the ground and the above ground testing devices.

I know the gas drillers own the mineral rights below the ground, but how is permission granted for this above ground activity? It seems like the property owners should be able to charge the gas drillers a fee for using their ground.

It's very perplexing.

The Arrival Of Barnett Shale Seismic Testing In The Mount Tandy Neighorhood

It was a degree or two under 90 when I hit the Tandy Hills today around noon. A good, strong wind was blowing. I did not overheat.

In the picture I am standing on top of what I call Big Lizard Ridge, looking east at the top of Mount Tandy, also known as Broadcast Hill.

That is the Tandy Tower on the left, also known as the Fort Worth Space Needle.

I am parked between the Fort Worth Space Needle and the shorter needle to its right.

Broadcast Hill is so called because it is the location of the D/FW zone's NBC broadcast studio. It was recently made known that the D/FW zone's NBC broadcast studio is leaving Broadcast Hill and moving to a more central location.

A couple days ago Barnett Shale seismic testing wires have appeared all over my neighborhood.

Today I was surprised to see Barnett Shale seismic testing wires strung all over the Broadcast Hill neighborhood.

I believe Chesapeake Energy owns the land between the NBC broadcast studio and the Tandy Hills Natural Area.

Is the real reason NBC is leaving Broadcast Hill because Chesapeake Energy is planning to put up a drilling tower by all the other towers on Broadcast Hill?

I can pretty much guarantee that if Chesapeake Energy tries to do such a thing there will be some loud broadcasting of a different sort from Broadcast Hill.