Poisoned Water: T. Boone Pickens Promotes Practice that Threatens Drinking Water

The Haynesville Shale in Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana has been touted widely as one of the largest centers for natural gas exploration in the world but the exploration and extraction of natural gas from it could destroy safe drinking water.

The Haynesville Shale in Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana has been touted widely as one of the largest centers for natural gas exploration in the world but the exploration and extraction of natural gas from it could destroy safe drinking water and wreak havoc on states already suffering from weather-generated and economic storms. Citizens have lined up in search of instant riches for land where companies have bought natural gas rights as T. Boone Pickens television advertisements and broadcasts have brought talk of natural gas as an energy option front and center for discussion on an ongoing basis. He may indeed be coming to a city near you since his is a national message. Although many offers given to companies and individuals for drilling rights appear to be on hold because the price of oil has dropped sharply in the world, it is likely it will continue again as politicians and T. Boone Pickens invoke the need for natural gas as an option for energy in the future, especially if there is any event that causes oil prices to rise again. What has happened with Louisiana swamps to the South are likely to happen in the North and Central areas as well, leading to more problems for the State, some scientists predict. And one of the biggest problems, despite the fact that Louisiana is swampy, is that citizens may have unsafe drinking water as a consequence. Look sharply, citizens in other states: this issue may be coming to your backyard as well. Nearly ten years ago the National Audubon Society maintained hat Louisiana and the nation are losing a national treasure, the Atchafalaya Basin, Cypress trees were logged off in the Basin in order for oil and gas companies to exercise their mineral rights. The consequences to the environment are readily seen in the stark ugliness that now is reflected in the swamps of South Louisiana. This issue affects the State of Louisiana as well as the rest of the United States, given pollution problems and reduction of flood control. The rest of the country has had to step in to help the City of New Orleans, still reeling from Hurricane Katrina. It is impossible to drink from public fountains in New Orleans and most of South Louisiana because the water has been polluted by the chemicals from the oil companies that have crept into the soil, according to experts. Hydraulic fractured drilling is the type of exploration means for extracting natural gas out of the ground, allowing pipelines to be placed horizontally under land surfaces miles from target areas. This means someone can continue life as usual in an ordinary home while the land beneath is being drilled. But here’s the ultimate irony. That life as usual in Louisiana homes won’t be life as usual because the water used for the extraction is polluted with toxic chemicals making it unfit to use for drinking. Already people in California and Colorado, other places where fractured drilling has taken place, have complained about drinking water tainted with chemicals. Donations to the needy might be increased through the largesse of those involved in the natural gas companies, as the Shreveport Times but concerns about drinking water have yet to be vocalized. Once again the greedy have stepped in and rechanneled messages towards the potential to make money with no news programs or articles that have raised real concerns about environmental issues. In 2001 Camping Made Easy reported that the Federal Environmental Protection Agency stated that 90% of the world’s drinking water is unsafe. That makes safe drinking water a worldwide problem and one that needs worldwide focus. So as the new President, Barack Obama, prepares to take over leadership of the government of the United States, will this critical environmental issue be an important part of major discussion or will the greedy continue to control the water, an issue that could seriously impact the poor who can’t afford bottled water and others who can’t access it? Hopefully other news media will investigate this issue and bring public attention to it.