OK. It's now time to begin further discussion concerning some of the points I made in my Letter to the Editor (Record Delta - July 23, 2008).
Point Number 5: "The silica sand will be controlled and contained"
First and foremost, there IS DANGER from the silica contained in the proppant used by Weatherford (and the drilling industry in general). If you are an employer that uses such carcinogens, you are required by OSHA to warn your employees of their use of it. Then you, as an employee, can decide whether to place yourself in jeopardy. But the people in North Buckhannon (residents) would not have this choice. So Weatherford, in their persuasive attempt to get the residents to agree to the silo construction, said that "the silica sand will be controlled and contained." I have argued that this is not possible even for a responsible company.
Many residents may not know this, but Weatherford is currently conducting business in the Tennerton area, in a small lot located next to Shop n' Save. This area is directly adjacent to the townhouse complex . PLEASE, take a quick trip out there and take a look at the "controlled and contained" conditions located there. They are not. The conditions are anything but contained.
In Weatherford's "Environmental Manual for Global Operations" which you can look through by visiting City Hall, it is stated, in bold, on page 14, under the subtitle "Responding to a Spill"...
All spills, regardless of size must be cleaned up immediately.
Considering that this manual is meant for the "environment" of the employee (not the environment of the Earth), the conditions in Tennerton do not follow Weatherford's own manual standards.
And the following pictures, taken on August 1, 2008 (around 1:00 PM) will attest to the fact that proppant, (silica sand) is not being contained or controlled. When you begin to think about the 1.2 MILLION POUNDS of proppant that is scheduled to be stored in each silo, such lax containment standards as shown in this much smaller scale operation is a recipe for disaster.
Controlled and Contained ????????
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When do classes resume at Wesleyan? Most of the community can't wait. Maybe you will start harassing someone else. You can't stop progress, they are moving into Buckhannon whether you like it or not. You are making a complete moron of yourself, by sitting and just waiting for someone to mess up.
If you are so concerned about the health of the community, go take pictures outside of Cooks Store. Where I am sure you will see many innocent people breathing second hand smoke. Now there is a real concern. And don't forget about the gambling (also at Cooks store). Do you know how many people in the state of WV have gambling problems. They get their paychecks and spend it all gambling, while there families are going hungry? Take pictures of them, instead of hard working men and women trying to make a living in this town. Some people arent as lucky as you. They have to go out and get dirty and work hard.
I really hope that once classes resume, you will have less time on your hands to do something for the community instead of against it.
I have done what you said, and visited the Weatherford lot by Shop n Save. I don't see the disaster area that you speak of. Also, if you don't know the difference between dust and water vapor then don't surmise that is was dust and not water vapor. Also, do the men and/or women that you photographed know you took their picture. The last I checked that was invasion of ones privacy. You can take pictures of the lot and the trucks, but should have asked permission from the individual to use his photo on your blog.
I have just about had all I can take of reading your empty minded crap. You haven't done your research as you say. I have personally contacted the EPA myself. I was told by 3 people that they do not even require AIR QUALITY TESTING for Silica. Because IF it produces any dust it falls back to the ground withing 54 yards. The CDC (CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL) states that their has NOT been an increase in lung or respiratory illness in other places where the same silos are located. If you had done your research correctly you would have already known this.
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