Have You Experienced a Personal Injury Because of Natural Gas Drilling?

11 Nov Have You Experienced a Personal Injury Because of Natural Gas Drilling?

Barnett Shale is a geological formation of sedimentary rocks in the state of Texas right in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In total, it encompasses parts of 17 counties. Since 2002, gas companies have been exploiting this resource and the numbers have only skyrocketed since then, according to Channel WFAA. From 2,000 oil wells in 2002, there has since been an increase to 12,000 wells. According to the television station, not one government agency has been testing the air to check for potentially deadly pollutants in the air. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality only recently began a study on the area and the results have been intimidating to say the least. Benzene, a cancer-causing toxin was found in the air of the Barnett Shale area. Dr. Michael Honeycutt of TCEQ stated that were “high levels” of benzene that could easily “lead to cancers like leukemia.” A Devon Energy spokesman by the name of Jay Ewing implied that natural gas drilling is a good thing since “there are no dangerous emissions being put into the atmosphere.” Regardless of good intentions however, the main issue is: are these natural gas drilling operations increasing the risk of sickness and disease? NPR's John Burnett interviewed some residents in Dish, Texas that lived near the gas projects. Even they, in their limited contact with these plants, reported health complications due to the drilling. A pediatric nurse reported “unexplainable symptoms” like headaches, dizziness and blackouts. She and her family asked people at the plant about the noise and the “constant fumes” but they insisted everything was operating normally. Another resident reported problems with his horses, reporting both fatalities and neurological defects. According to Burnett, other residents reported problems with headaches and ruptured ear drums. If residents who live nearby these oil wells are reporting symptoms that could be related to benzene, then how much more at risk are hired workers that get close to these natural gas drilling plants? If you have suffered ill health complications due to drilling from living too close to a plant or working on a plant then contact the Rasansky Law Firm at 1-877-659-1620. The oil companies working on Barnett Shale owe the people of Texas a responsible work ethic. Call now for a free consultation!