Undated Photo. Fort Lupton, Colorado. |
FORT LUPTON, Colo. - When we exposed the flammable water, polluted by Gas and Oil drilling in Weld County, we didn't know it would capture the world's attention.
Now Congress is launching an investigation and the EPA is taking a closer look at the impact gas and oil drilling could be having on our health and environment.
Congress is investigating after two of the nation's largest natural gas companies admitted to pumping several hundred thousand gallons of diesel based fluid into the ground
The EPA in Texas is planning to put limits on what gas and oil drilling companies can release into the air, after tests showed high levels of the cancer causing chemical benzene in the air over one of the biggest natural gas fields in Texas. "Having Benzene in the air or water is a recipe for a public health disaster," Environmental Hazards Investigator Adrienne Anderson says.
Now some Texas families want to know if Benzene is to blame for at least seven cases of Leukemia in children who live near the area.
"These are kids, they don't smoke, they don't come into contact with other hazards, and there are quite a few children coming down with Leukemia, and people coming down with kidney cancers and adrenal cancers," says Anderson.
Anderson is helping some of the grass roots organizations in Texas, made up mostly of mothers, who are demanding change.
EPA region 6, which includes Texas, is responding with tougher restrictions for gas and oil drilling and plans to study the impact the drilling process called Hydraulic Fracturing, has on the ground water.
But here in Colorado, home of the flammable water, EPA region 8 which covers Colorado isn't putting any kind of restrictions on gas and oil drilling.
An EPA spokesperson says, "When it comes to oil and gas activity, there are limits to EPA's legal authorityÂ…In Colorado, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission have primary authority for responding to incidents and protecting surface and ground water from contamination associated with production activities. EPA is concerned about impacts to private wells and is working closely with both state agencies to share information and assess these situations."
A spokesperson for the Colorado Oil and gas Conservation Commission admits there have been times where water is contaminated by gas and oil drilling, but he says "it has adopted a number of regulations to ensure our water and air is protected."
But Anderson disagrees, "The state is not doing enough or we would not be at the point where we are now." She says the EPA needs to be vigilant in Colorado. "If you get to the point in the state of Colorado where the people have water coming out of their faucets that you can light with a match and turn into a fireball that's evidence of poor regulation."
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Now Congress is launching an investigation and the EPA is taking a closer look at the impact gas and oil drilling could be having on our health and environment.
Congress is investigating after two of the nation's largest natural gas companies admitted to pumping several hundred thousand gallons of diesel based fluid into the ground
The EPA in Texas is planning to put limits on what gas and oil drilling companies can release into the air, after tests showed high levels of the cancer causing chemical benzene in the air over one of the biggest natural gas fields in Texas. "Having Benzene in the air or water is a recipe for a public health disaster," Environmental Hazards Investigator Adrienne Anderson says.
Now some Texas families want to know if Benzene is to blame for at least seven cases of Leukemia in children who live near the area.
"These are kids, they don't smoke, they don't come into contact with other hazards, and there are quite a few children coming down with Leukemia, and people coming down with kidney cancers and adrenal cancers," says Anderson.
Anderson is helping some of the grass roots organizations in Texas, made up mostly of mothers, who are demanding change.
EPA region 6, which includes Texas, is responding with tougher restrictions for gas and oil drilling and plans to study the impact the drilling process called Hydraulic Fracturing, has on the ground water.
But here in Colorado, home of the flammable water, EPA region 8 which covers Colorado isn't putting any kind of restrictions on gas and oil drilling.
An EPA spokesperson says, "When it comes to oil and gas activity, there are limits to EPA's legal authorityÂ…In Colorado, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission have primary authority for responding to incidents and protecting surface and ground water from contamination associated with production activities. EPA is concerned about impacts to private wells and is working closely with both state agencies to share information and assess these situations."
A spokesperson for the Colorado Oil and gas Conservation Commission admits there have been times where water is contaminated by gas and oil drilling, but he says "it has adopted a number of regulations to ensure our water and air is protected."
But Anderson disagrees, "The state is not doing enough or we would not be at the point where we are now." She says the EPA needs to be vigilant in Colorado. "If you get to the point in the state of Colorado where the people have water coming out of their faucets that you can light with a match and turn into a fireball that's evidence of poor regulation."
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