"Texas Drilling Brings Health Complaints, but Little Enforcement"

"AUSTIN, Tex. — Bradford Gilde, a Houston lawyer, stumbled across some unexpected evidence as he was preparing to sue Aruba Petroleum on behalf of a North Texas couple who believed fumes from the company’s natural gas wells were making them sick.

His clients, Bob and Lisa Parr, complained of chronic dizziness and eye and throat irritation. A Texas environmental inspector reported experiencing the same symptoms in 2010 after visiting Aruba’s wells in Wise County, Mr. Gilde learned.

Responding to complaints from residents, and its own inspector’s dizzying experience, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality later fined Aruba $35,500 in 2012."

Neena Satija reports for the New York Times November 20, 2014.

Source: NY Times, 11/21/2014