By Carl-John X Veraja of the Nightly Citizen
Recently, I wrote a couple of stories about how a totally new type of oil rig at Sunshine Elementary was being called nothing more than “routine maintenance” and the replacement of a pump.
I find the NBC-2 reporting on this abhorrent and sent an email out to several persons noting that when a well like this was planned in Golden Gate Estates all hell broke loose. Now, they’re putting one up behind an elementary school and no one cares?
The only person who even responded was Sheldon Zoldan, of the News-Press. His response was inadequate, and I pointed out why. I gave Shelton Zoldan a 10 days to respond to this and he has not.
This is not the first time I’ve noticed the local news shirking certain facts. The mainstream media seems to think they own reality to the extent they can disregard a GIANT FRACKING RIG behind an elementary school.
The DEP has also failed to address my concerns. They only repeated that it was routine maintenance and replacing a pump. Then, I was given some outdated documents.
A writer with WGCU actually said that the “Koch brothers don’t contribute that much” to them.
Oh, geez. The “free press.”
Below is their email and my response–
I replaced the copies of articles Zoldan sent me with links because they said the email contained some proprietary info and I think they meant the articles reprinted therein.
THIS READS IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER–
My email from July 18th, 2014
(To Shelton Zoldan)
That’s great.
Now an acid fracking rig is put up.
This is a whole new set of circumstances.
Shouldn’t you see if there are plans for public hearings, water contamination tests, and a citizen review board?
If they are acidizing a mixture of oil and other underground contents with groundwater is eminently possible.
Also, I noticed a water main break occurred yesterday, a day after I visited the well location and no workers were in site.
Apparently, fracking activities can stress out water mains.
Not saying there is a definite link there, but interesting coincidence, at least.
Also, the NBC-2 story was ridiculous. They called this routine maintenance.
Is that some kind of sick joke?
Sheldon Zoltan’s email from earlier that day…
Carl:
Steve Doane wrote a story that ran on Sunday, May 11 about this oil well near the school. We also ran a response story from DEP May 14 (can’t include).
What is wrong with the Lehigh Acres and for that matter Lee County Residents? This fracking is a BIG DEAL and raises huge health issues with the quality of the drinking water and underlying acquifers number one. Doesn’t anyone care about their children anymore? This is simply mind boggling that all the residents aren’t bombarding their Commissioners, FDEP and newspapers/media demanding accountability!