Martina Salinas, Green Party Candidate for Texas Railroad Commissioner in 2014 November Elections

Presentation to the Denton City Council, July, 2014

In the interest of full disclosure, I am neither an industry insider, nor am I a career politician, but I am the Green Party candidate for Texas Railroad Commissioner.

Texas has a long and proud tradition in natural gas and oil drilling, but we need to stop trading our children’s futures for short-term financial gains. Yes, the recent boom has helped revitalized many depress local economies, but at what cost?

This city’s and the state’s most important resources are its people. In order for its people to survive and prosper two very important resources need to be protected: this city’s land and water.

I applaud the City of Denton for fulfilling its responsibility to its residents and addressing their concerns by proposing a ban on fracturing within city limits. I, for one, am also aghast at the audacity of a state public official trying to scold a city through a four page letter. It is especially appalling since that state agency has failed its original mission of protecting Texas citizens against big industry.
Whether this ban is passed or not I would urge council to consider a few new requirements as part of the drilling permitting process. And please excuse my ignorance if these are issues have been discussed in previous meetings.

I recommend that oil/gas companies hold town hall meetings for affected citizens so all pertinent information can be disturbed, such as a contact list of all relevant personnel and agencies.

Another requirement to consider is to require baseline testing of air and water before permitting; this could act as the record of pre-existing conditions and protect all parties.
One last matter to consider is assessing a fee or using current revenues for the creation of a drilling permit office to oversee the various sites under construction and existing to ensure compliance to local ordinances and to refer state level violations.

I urge council not to be influenced by the false premise that the nation’s energy future fall on the shoulders of Denton. The future of energy should lay with solar and wind power. More jobs in solar and wind power is what our state’s future should be.

For the past eight years, I have worked in the construction industry and I have seen bad companies and responsible companies. And even the good companies have accidents or make mistakes; so keeping the future of our families in mind as the citizens of Texas we need to hold all fracking operations, especially waste water disposal to a high standard, even if it means stopping operations.

We are but the current stewards of our state’s resources we only hold them in trust for future generations. We need to be responsible stewards by practicing sustainable development in order to ensure that our children’s children & beyond can see and will enjoy the beauty that is Texas. Texas has a long and proud tradition in natural gas and oil drilling, but we need to stop trading our children's futures for short-term financial gains. Yes, the recent boom as helped revitalize many depress local economies, but at what cost. With our state's future and future of our families in mind we the citizens of Texas need to hold all fracking operations, especially waste water disposal to a high standard, even if it means stopping operations to ensure that our children's children and beyond can and will see and enjoy the beauty that is Texas.