Brockovich: Midland, Texas Water contaminated with hexavalent chromium (chromium-6)

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Possible Schlumberger connection.

"I never thought I'd see another Hinkley, California," Brockovich told CBS News in Midland, “but I’m afraid I might be wrong."

Hexavalent Chromium, Brockovich said, is now being found in significant amounts in the water of over 40 homes in Midland.

"The only difference between here and Hinkley," Brockovich said, "is that I saw higher levels here than I saw in Hinkley."

Midland resident Kay Saythre knew something was wrong, and asked Brockovich to investigate.

"We didn’t really understand why the water was yellow when we filled the pool," Saythre said.

<snip>

Bob Bowcock, an environmental investigator, believes the source of the contamination is Schlumberger, an oil field services company.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/10/earlyshow/main5076625.shtml

[PDittie]

1. Link from last night's town hall meeting

Erin B spoke there:

http://www.mywesttexas.com/articles/2009/06/10/news/top_stories/doc4a2f2dc3caba3981950731.txt

mywesttexas.com is the Midland newspaper's website.

[sonias]

2. Bet TCEQ didn't have a problem with it

They see nothing....

thefreelibrary.com

WHAT IS HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM? Chromium is found in nature as part of chromite chromite ore (Fe). This ore is processed to produce pure chromium metal. Chromium easily bonds with other elements to form different compounds. This bonding usually occurs when chromium (Cr) accepts electrons from other elements, thereby joining together with them. If Chromium accepts three electrons, then it is considered trivalent, having a valence of three chromium, or Cr (III), in that compound. If it accepts six electrons it is considered hexavalent chromium, or Cr (VI).

Compounds containing hexavalent chromium are used in electroplating electroplating and the production of paint pigments, corrosion inhibitors and many other products. Workers can be exposed in the fumes fumes or spray from operations using these compounds, including in scrap-related operations.

What kind of production process is going on in Midland?


Sonia

[texastoast]

3. There are a couple of refineries along the part of I-20

I-20 where the county road is that Brockovich has targeted. I don't know what is out there, but it is not limited to refining. There is lots of machining that goes on there and there are lots of chemicals that are used in those processes. My BIL is a supervisor at a place where all the workers were breaking out and having respiratory distress. Turns out it was in the fluids used in the machining tools, and he was told not to discuss it.

Lots of chemicals are used to clean and reuse barrels and clean large storage. My BIL and SIL lived about 200 feet from a barrel cleaning outfit that the EPA eventually shut down.

But don't go bitching too much to these people. This is their livelihood and they have a tendency to change the subject a lot. And they don't give a shit because their incidence of thyroid cancers is way, way over the national average.

And they voted for Bush, by and large.

[white cloud]

8. Thyroid swelled up as big as softball and breathing became difficult

Ironic, I have an 40 year aunt that was raise in west Midland. She is recovering right now from thyroid surgery last week. Thyroid swelled up as big as softball and breathing became difficult. Originally they were going to remove growth on thyroid, but took out thyroid??

BTW thanks for the site -first post.

[sonias]

9. Welcome to DU Texas forum white cloud!

Sorry to hear about your Aunt's health issues. And I wonder if this contamination contributed to her problems. Brockovich's investigative group thinks the well water was contaminated for at least 5 years.

:hi:

Sonia

[white cloud]

10. will have to watch for other signs?

Thanks Sonia,
I can't say at this time. I will do some research and see where it leads. She was born there and raised there. She went off to college and has not live there the last 15 years. Need to discuss possibilty with her younger brother and put him on the watch for signs. Will post if I hear any connections. TIA

[Horse with no Name]

12. Isn't this the same crap they pulled in

in Hinkley?

[texastoast]

4. The first finger is pointed at Schlumberger

Though they say they don't use the stuff.

http://www.newswest9.com/Global/story.asp?s=10512838

[sonias]

5. TCEQ clueless, news at 10:00 p.m.

The TCEQ discovered the contamination several weeks ago and have since added filters to the wells.

Neighbors living off County Road 114 had been living with green water.

TCEQ officials quickly determined it is Chromium 6, but they still haven't figured out the source.

Sure TCEQ discovered the contamination several weeks ago and I'm sure that Erin Brockovich and the Midland County residents who probably noticed their green water long before then had anything to do with the TCEQ "discovery". :eyes:


Sonia

[susanr516]

6. TCEQ is about as useless

as tits on a bull.

[sonias]

7. Midland wells contaminated with chromium

AAS 7/11/09
Midland wells contaminated with chromium

MIDLAND, Texas —
(snip)

Texas environmental officials are still trying to determine the extent of the contamination. Later this month, they will ask the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to consider the site for federal Superfund status.

(snip)
Some think the agency isn't moving quickly enough.

"When there an emergency like this it can be perceived that no one is moving fast enough," said Bob Bowcock, an environmental engineer investigating the Midland County contamination with Brockovich.

The concentrations of hexavalent chromium are the highest he's ever seen in groundwater, and he believes the chemical has been in the groundwater for up to five years.

These peoples wells are ruined and if they can't get connected to the main water supply their homes are worthless now too.

Sonia

[tammywammy]

11. That's just horrible.

:(

[Horse with no Name]

13. When you drive through midland at dusk/early evening

there is a fine dust that is settling on the city--and on the lungs of the residents there.
This is down by the industrial part of the city. I own a home there. I will never live there.