Phelim McAleer Director of Fracknation States That There Is "No Science" On The Negative Effects of Oil and Gas Development

Recently I had a debate with Phelim McAleer, and one common theme comes from those like Mr.
McAleer, is that there is "no science" that oil and gas development causes negative effects on the communities in which it takes place. Of course if you look back through history, any science that does not reflect positively for the oil and gas industry has been attacked and attempted to be discredited. However, over the past several years, there has been significant scientific data released. Many of these reports have been peer reviewed and published in scientific journals. I have provided this information to Mr. McAleer on several occasions; however, the oil and gas industry extremist will simply not be confused with facts.

During our debate, I brought several different studies that dealt with the negative effects of oil and gas development. However, these 15 or so scientific studies were completely ignored by the industry
extremist, and no matter how many times they were brought up, they skimmed over them as though they never existed. It was comparable to them holding their hands over their ears and screaming la la la la la. They claim they want science, then they ignore the science that does not support their position.

After the debate a local radio host, had Mr. McAleer on their show, and they continued down the same path that there is simply "no science" to support that oil and gas development causes problems in communities where it takes place.  Unfortunately, people like this have an audience and they spread this misinformation to that audience.  I am shocked at the willingness of the corporate run media to give people like Mr. McAleer a much louder voice than his talent or credibility would warrant.

There is a theory that if you tell a lie long enough, it becomes the truth. It is apparent that this is the
strategy employed by the oil and gas industry and their paid extremists. There is an industry imposed bar that gets raised to the point that it can never be met, especially on issues that impact their bottom
line. As previously mentioned, I have provided the tangible science on multiple occasions. During the
debate Mr. McAleer specifically wanted to see "peer reviewed science", which over the past few
years, there have been significant "peer reviewed science" released on the effects of oil and gas development. Mr. McAleer typically brings in his supporters on social media to help further his cause. During a recent Twitter discussion, I provided several "peer reviewed" studies regarding oil and gas development to one of Mr. McAleer's supporters and they responded with this:

So they ask for peer reviewed data, and when this data is provided, that attack peer reviewed data, or simply ignore it.  This clearly shows that it is not about the data, it is about them spreading false and misleading information. Any "investigative journalist", which Mr. McAleer claims to be, would be aware of the significant science that emphasizes the negative impacts of oil and gas development. However, it is clear that him and his supporters choose to ignore it.

Although he does not have many supporters, some of them regurgitate his attacks without
researching them at all. This helps in his spread of misinformation. I often ask for the evidence to
support their attacks, which of course they can not produce. One of his more aggressive supporters,
began regurgitating the attacks, when I simply asked for evidence to support his claims. He decided
to be the first to f-bomb me on twitter and block me. You can see this below, actions such as this do
not move the debate along at all, but does show that it is not a debate or discussion that they are
after.

Another tactic that is used is to take an excerpt from one of these reports and take it out of context as
a mechanism to discredit it. Then they take this misinformation and extrapolate it to other reports, to
discredit all of the science that shows any negative effects of oil and gas development. In this
particular instance, the example that was used was a report of the social impacts of oil an gas
development, which has been a major problem for rural areas that do not have the infrastructure to
support a large influx of transient labor, which oil and gas development always brings. However, one
section of this report was taken out of context and then portrayed as the only science available on oil
and gas development. This of course shows no ethics in journalism, but rather more propaganda,
that is meant to distort the facts to reach an the outcome that they want. Why would a "investigative
journalist" take these sort of unethical actions? Money of course; they want the industry to throw
some of that big cash their way. This probably works for the unethical journalist, but not for the industry, as the public at large is seeing through their lies and misinformation.

Below are links to several reports of oil and gas development, some of which are peer reviewed. I
would encourage you to not only review the reports, but pay particular attention to the laboratory
results contained in the report. You will clearly see the trend that oil and gas development has
multiple negative effects in the areas in which it takes place. Instead of conceding this fact and looking for real remedies to the blatant problems that exist, the industry chooses to pay "journalist" to
mislead and attempt to cover up the facts. One of my close advisers used a term that describes this
well, when he called them "paid liars". Unfortunately for them the house of cards is coming down,
and the science is proving that this is is not "safe and effective" method of extracting hydrocarbons. 

Barnett Shale Monitoring Report:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0P-oym-MTKzZm53eFpDVEFRbGs/view?usp=sharing

Garfield County Monitoring Report:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0P-oym-MTKzMDA4ZDcwZTgtMzJjZi00YTk5LThhZTYtYmRlZjZhZGZlY2Ri/view?usp=sharing

TCEQ Health Effects Review DISH:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0P-oym-MTKzNWZTQzNMRWxBd2c/view?usp=sharing

Rice University Barnett Shale Air:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0P-oym-MTKzSWdmNHF1RFhNWUE/view?usp=sharing

VOC Emissions from Oil and Condensate Storage Tanks:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0P-oym-MTKzNHBFazMwNlNFOEE/view?usp=sharing

Upstream Oil and Gas Storage Tank Project:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0P-oym-MTKzYUZ3OU5VdnNCNmc/view?usp=sharing

BSEEC Study Fort Worth and Arlington:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0P-oym-MTKzakwyaGNwcmpyV0U/view?usp=sharing

Human Health Risk Assessment of Air Emissions from Development of Unconventional Natural Gas Resources (peer reviewed):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0P-oym-MTKzbkowX0tiUjcxcTA/view?usp=sharing

Uintah Basin, UT (peer reviewed):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0P-oym-MTKzZ0JHc01SV0E5YWc/view?usp=sharing

Birth Outcomes and Maternal Residential Proximity to Natural Gas Development in Rural Colorado (peer reviewed): 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0P-oym-MTKzckFIa19RMkRyeUE/view?usp=sharing

Impacts of Gas Drilling on Human and Animal Health (peer reviewed):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0P-oym-MTKzR0JoNWtYMmQwNXM/view?usp=sharing

Health Impact Assessment for Battlement Mesa, Garfield County, CO:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0P-oym-MTKzY21ReV9va25YNVU/view?usp=sharing

Natural Gas Operations from a Public Health Perspective (peer reviewed):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0P-oym-MTKzN1VBanlCQUVpd2M/view?usp=sharing

Hormones and Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (peer reviewed):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0P-oym-MTKzVDJqUHNkNjNOQ0E/view?usp=sharing

An Exploratory Study of Air Quality Near Natural Gas Operations (peer reviewed):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0P-oym-MTKzNm1iWEJROE9RcWM/view?usp=sharing

INVESTIGATING LINKS BETWEEN SHALE GAS DEVELOPMENT AND HEALTH IMPACTS THROUGH A COMMUNITY SURVEY PROJECT IN PENNSYLVANIA (peer reviewed):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0P-oym-MTKzMkRkNnF5d0NPZkU/view?usp=sharing

This is just a fraction of the data available, and this was found with a quick internet search.  Therefore, it does not take an "investigative journalist" to find this kind of information.  However, on the many occasions, that I have brought this information to Mr. McAleer's attention, he always asks for more evidence, so perhaps the fearless "investigative journalist" needs some lessons on how to find the truth, cause it is clear he is looking in the wrong spot for it. 

If we are ever going to truly have a discussion about our energy future, we must first concede that "fracking" is not the cure for everything, and it certainly has many problems associated with it.  If we do not objectively look at this, there will be a big mess to be cleaned up in the future.  There is one thing that they conveniently overlook, which is that there is no "peer reviewed" science that show this activity is completely safe. 

Will the Oil and Gas Industry Ever Learn?

On November 4, 2014, there was a historical vote in Denton, TX, which of course was when the residents voted to ban hydraulic fracturing within the corporate limits of the city.  This is a bit shocking considering the political make up of this area and the amount of funding that the industry sunk into defeating this measure.  Another interesting thing is the margin of victory for this measure, for all the money that was sunk into this election by the industry, they were not even close to victory.  What is also shocking is that candidate races in the area still went heavily to republicans.  In the Texas State Representative race for House District 64 which encompasses Denton, the republican Myra Crownover easily won with 64 percent of the vote.  So is clear that a large number of republicans supported this ban.  

Many years ago, during a meeting with the industry, I voiced my displeasure with the manner in which they did business and told them that if they continued down this path, that no one would want this industry doing business near them.  I hate to say I told you so, but I did.  Now the question is will they ever learn, and the initial response is “no”, they will never learn.  After getting their tails kicked pretty badly in an election where they had all of the advantages, they chose not to change their business practices, and truly try to be the good neighbors they say they are on TV, but they filed a lawsuit.  This makes it clear that they’re never going to try and be a good neighbor.  Instead of running to make amends for their wrong doings, they try force their way into the neighborhoods, continuing to be bad actors.  

At least in places like Denton, this probably could have all been avoided if this industry had one ounce of compassion for the communities they do business in.  However, they chose to violate the wishes of the community, resulting in the ban on a technique that was developed a few miles up the road from here.  Denton is also a town that has a large industry presence, with several of these companies having offices and other facilities there.  However, when you trample all over people private property rights, kill their property values, and destroy their quality of life, you should expect something like this.  

Instead of trying to work with the communities that they were pissing all over, the industry runs to Austin for help.  To which the Texas Railroad Commissioners came running with bells on.  Unfortunately, the trio better known as the three stooges here in Texas, did nothing more than what the industry did, which was like pouring “gas” on a flame, and made the situation much worse.  Did anybody ever give those who were working on the ban any respect for their complaints?  No, they all just insulted them even more, accusing them being buddies with Putin, and other false and misleading statements, which of course didn’t work, but again fanned the flames.   

I was taught something at young age which was; when you find yourself in a hole…stop digging.  However, the oil and gas industry and their supporters must have missed that little piece of common sense.  The results are that they gave a couple goofballs $800,000.00, which turned out to be a big waste of money.  I know this may be a shock to those in the industry, but after years of misleading and lying to people, nobody trusts you.  Therefore, when you give money to someone that lies on your behalf, that makes them paid liars, and even a fool can spot a paid liar.  

What is even more damning for the industry is that the paid liars are losing the battle in other areas as well.  A total of 4 bans on hydraulic fracturing were passed around the country.  And these bans were not implement with millions of dollars from Russian backed environmental groups, but rather by a small group of local citizens.  Normal people who have regular jobs, but are tired of seeing their property rights trampled all over by an industry who couldn’t care less.  One of my most trusted advisors says “there is a billion dollars beneath our feet and they don’t care who they trample on to get it”.  This is truly a case of Goliath being taken down with a slingshot and smooth stone. 

Of course, the Texas Railroad Commission is not the only one running to the industry’s aid, the other prostitutes will come running with their aid as well. The Texas Land Office has joined the industry filing a lawsuit.  The Texas Land Office mission states: “The Texas General Land Office serves the schoolchildren, veterans, and all people of Texas by preserving their history, protecting their environment, expanding economic opportunity, and maximizing state revenue through innovative administration and prudent stewardship of state lands and resources.”  Not sure what makes them think they have dog in this fight, other than the fact that most of the Texas elected officials at the state level fight over the opportunity to pimp themselves out to this industry.  

State Representative Phil King, of Texas House District 61, who serves on the Energy Resources Committee, has already committed to introducing legislation that removes a Texas municipality’s right to ban hydraulic fracturing.  Of course Representative King, is another who will fight for the opportunity to pimp himself out to the industry, and never look his citizens in the eye while doing it.  Texas House District 61 encompasses the Azle, TX area where they have had the rash of earthquakes caused by the fracking waste injection wells.  However, Representative King did not show up at the meetings held by the state, and has thus far refused to talk with his citizens about these earthquakes.  It must be noted that Representative King has multiple ethics violations and is therefore technically a “crook”.  He also refuses to look me in the eye when I testify before the Energy Resources committee; therefore, I take him as a coward.  He also refuses to take a stand to protect the property rights of hard working Texans.  

It is strange that Representative King would choose to remove local control when on his website he states that “Local control and limited government must be the first resort not the last”.  However, it is clear that those positions go out the window when we are talking about the Oil and Gas industry.  When it comes to this subject, it appears that the Austin cronies are good with an overbearing state government, which takes away local control from municipalities.  It is also clear that the Austin Cronies like Representative King, are more than willing to ignore a valid election, and overturn the will of the people.  I guess when you are a prostitute for the oil and gas industry, things like local control and limited government, are just buzzwords.   

One thing that is missed in all of this by the industry and their prostitutes is that the people who are affected by all of this have property rights also.  Our private property rights start where our property line begins, so why doesn’t the industry consider keeping their noise, odors, bright lights, and hazardous chemicals on their side of the fence?  They trespass their crap on our property and expect us to take it.  The hardworking, honest Texans who voted for this ban don’t want a noisy, smelly industrial site, 200 feet from the backdoor, and those other than the industry and their cronies understand that fact.  

The people of Denton passed an ordinance that would have helped protect people’s private property rights, and the industry ignored their wishes.  What exactly did the industry expect?  Don’t blame the people of Denton for this ban, blame the industry and the prostitutes who support them.  Common sense tells you that you cannot keep ramming this stuff down the throats of the people without consequences.  So if you’re in the oil and gas industry or are one of their elected prostitutes, it was you who got yourself into this, not environmental groups funded by Russia, but you.  The blame is yours, so take the whipping that you deserve.