YOU are invited

NCTCA invites you to hear about the State of the Shale.  If you live here, YOU can't afford to miss it.

"WHERE WE'VE BEEN AND WHERE ARE WE GOING?”

Meeting Moderator: Mr. Gary Hogan, Vice President
Hogangaryfwtx@aol.com

**With special presentations from others who have had an enormous impact on our communities**

When: Thursday, January 19, 2012
Where: HOTEL TRINITY INN SUITES
Located in the "Skyline Room" with a
beautiful view of downtown Fort Worth
2000 Beach Street and IH30
Fort Worth, Texas 76103
Networking @ 6:30 pm
Meeting @ 7:00—9:15 pm

* "THOSE WHO SAY IT CANNOT BE DONE SHOULD GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THOSE WHO ARE DOING IT!" *

*Our Champion: Former Mayor Calvin Tillman*

Best of Fort Worth

The Fort Worth Weekly has released their Best of Edition for 2011.  Pick one up, check it out.

In addition to finding all the best spots in town, you can read about groups and people we've told you about - NCTCA, Clyde Picht, Ann Sutherland and Layla Caraway, just to name a few.

WHO was the politician most likely to sell grandma to the highest bidder?  YOU know WHO.

Oh, and Readers Choice for Locally Made Film - Up a Creek.  Congratulations to Bob Lukeman and TRIP and to all those out there making a difference.   Like the Weekly.

Lone Star salutes you all.

Hell Yeah.

The North Central Texas Communities Alliance has won the 2010 Special Service Award from the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club!

Hats off to the NCTCA!  

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

October 7 ACTION Meeting

STATEWIDE SUNSET REVIEW OF THE

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)

AND

the Texas Railroad Commission

-

When: Thursday, October 7, 2010

Time:   6:30pm - Networking & Coffee

              7:00pm - Meeting & Announcements

              8:45pm - Networking and Coffee

Place:  Hotel Trinity Inn Suites, IH30 @ Beach Street, Fort Worth, Texas

****Map to Hotel Trinity Inn Suites****

WHAT: NCTCA's stated mission focuses on 3 main objectives: 

Education -  Communication - Mobilization

Our October monthly meeting will engage you in all three actions!

               

This will be a highly informative, interactive and enjoyable session to give you a better understanding of the roles of the TxRRC & the TCEQ. Both of these agencies (plus 30 more) are up for Sunset Review during the 2011 Legislative Session, and your input can affect urgently needed changes. 

NCTCA is about empowering you and our communities!

Are you more than mildly distrustful that State agencies, like the Texas Railroad Commission (TxRRC) & the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) that are supposed to be protecting your health, safety, and property rights are more "beholdin'  to the industries they are created to regulate than to you?

Do you see Red Flags when you learn that two of the TX  RRC Commissioners received $800,000 and $1.3 million  in campaign contributions from the Oil and Gas industries they are supposed to oversee and regulate?

Does it bother you that the TCEQ not only didn't use scientifically recognized laboratory procedures in recent Barnett Shale air quality testing, and then got caught in lies to local elected officials about withholding pertinent data from their study results which discovered toxins in our air?

Did you know you are paying for a TxRRC office in Fort Worth but can't utilize their services, and must travel  (at your own expense)  to Austin for TxRRC business and hearings?

Do you realize that your lack of positive attention to and action on these issues can result in a natural gas well 157 feet from your front door (as in Fort Worth recently) or a 16 inch pipeline with wet odorless gas running across your front yard? It's already happening in one county!

Do you feel IGNORED by the very state agencies your tax dollars $$$ pay to protect you?

Well, it's time for make your voice heard this Thursday!  The industry is doing that already with heavy lobbying and lots of  "contributions!"  However, as Margaret Mead famously said;  "Never underestimate the power of a small, dedicated group of people to change the world; indeed, that is the only thing that ever has."

Come be part of an effective team effort working on positive solutions to these and other problems in the Barnett Shale and statewide!  Bring your pens, paper and your voice! (you will be heard!)  

The deadlines to submit your comments are fast approaching, and by joining us Thursday, Oct. 7th, your voice will be heard, you'll have the latest information, and 

you can join others in mobilizing! 

PLEASE NOTE:  As much as we'd like to have individual discussions regarding the above information, we are an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization, and there just aren't enough hours in the day!  We encourage you and your friends and neighbors to join us Oct. 7th for a firsthand experience and to support our area wide efforts!

EMERGENCY - ARLINGTON CITIZENS NEED HELP! (Not just flooding)

North Central Texas Communities Alliance

September 2010 - Emergency Notice

OUR FRIENDS IN ARLINGTON NEED YOUR HELP NOW!

If you find it outrageous that our city council is permitting the conversion of the "horse farm" tract into what will be a noisy, dangerous, twenty-four-hour Heavy Industrial zone for months at a stretch every year, please attend this meeting and sign a card registering your opposition.  Also consider actually speaking against the permit for up to three (3) minutes.

For additional questions please contact Ed Pischedda, Northern Arlington Ambience (Naa!)
naambience@gmail.com

To give you a better understanding of exactly why the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's (TCEQ) entire structure and procedural policies need to be reevaluated and changed, click on the link below and read an excellent investigative report that reveals the glaring "holes in the cheese" and why citizens have a high level of distrust of the TCEQ and their ability to protect our health and safety!

FORREST FOR THE TREES

JOIN AND BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION:

Something for everyone

And YOU are invited!

Thursday -

North Central Communities Alliance Meeting (NCTCA) meeting

September 16th (Thurs) at 6:30 pm

Program: WATER & GAS DRILLING

Panel of Legal and Scientific Experts will be available to address our questions and concerns. This Critical Issue that Affects You NOW!

Dr. Deaton - Professor of Physics & Geology at TWU

Mr. David Ritter, Attorney

Mr. Kirk Claunch, Attorney

Focus on Clean Water

All monthly meetings are at the lovely Hotel Trinity - Inn Suites conveniently located at I-30 & Beach St. in East Ft. Worth.
 
Saturday-
 
Fort Worth Convention Center

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm- doors open at 12:00 [noon]

Ann Coulter is the author of seven New York Times bestsellers. She is a frequent guest on many TV shows, including The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Sean Hannity, The Glenn Beck Show, HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, and has been profiled in numerous publications, including TV Guide, the Guardian (UK), the New York Observer, National Journal, Harper's Bazaar, and Elle magazine. She was the April 25, 2005 cover story of Time magazine.

Other Speakers Include:

Mark Davis

Jeff Bolton

Chris Krok

Brigitte Gabriel

Pastor Stephen Broden

Debra Medina

Kathie Glass

Dr. Suzanna Hupp

Adrian Murray

Entertainment By

Lloyd Marcus

Krista Branch

Joy Omega

Jon David

Emcee

Jon-David Wells, The Wells Report

660 KSKY News/Talk

YOU are invited!

Bring a friend!

North Central Texas Communities Alliance September Monthly Meeting

BREAKING NEWS! Mark Your Calendar!

UPCOMING MEETING! Mark Your Calendar!

September 16th (Thurs) at 6:30 pm

Program: WATER & GAS DRILLING
The Critical Issue that Affects You NOW!

Panel of Legal and Scientific Experts will be available to address our questions and concerns
All monthly meetings are at the lovely Hotel Trinity - Inn Suites conveniently located at I-30 & Beach St. in East Ft. Worth.

EPA PUBLIC MEETING JULY 8TH ON HYDRAULIC FRACTURING

YOUR HEALTH AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION

Friends,

YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY in the DFW area to make your voice heard on a critically important issue on Thursday, JULY 8th.

Those of us in the Barnett Shale are accutely aware of the hazards posed by hydraulic fracturing, and many are already experiencing problems with their well water and water resources.

We must DEMAND accountability from the gas drilling industry, and this is YOUR opportunity to let the EPA know that you support their efforts to thoroughly study the effects on our water supplies. We must also DEMAND full disclosure of the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process, as well as supporting the use of RECYCLING  the water used in the fracing process. 

Please email us at NCTCA if you have any questions:  nctcalliance@yahoo.com or nctcalliance@aol.com and go
to our website www.nctca.net  for further information on our efforts in working towards positive solutions related to gas drilling, pipelines, and property rights.

Come exercise your right of freedom of speech on July 8th!  See you there!

Esther McElfish - NCTCA President
and our NCTCA Advisory Board

WHO: Citizens concerned with the safety of our drinking water and air quality.
WHAT: EPA Public Informaiton meeting on Hydraulic Fracturing.
WHEN: Thursday, July 8th, 6-10 pm CST
WHERE: Hilton Fort Worth, 815 Main Street, Fort Worth, Texas.

Fort Worth has an abundance of natural gas deep in the shale formation beneith our city that companies are eager to get thier hand on.  We need to tell the EPA at Thursday's meeting that they should regulate this process from beginning to end.

It's important for you to attend even if you choose not to personally address the EPA.  Just your presence will let the EPA know that you expect them to protect our families when the Texas Railroad Commission and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality....will not!

They get it...

HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR WATER?

YOUR HEALTH AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION
With all of the talk lately about air quality in north central Texas, we tend to forget about the many ways in which the oil and gas industry can and does contaminate our water. 

The question no longer remains, "have we seen the worst this industry can do?"

Go to the links below and view acutal citizen video evidence. You will soon learn that these are NOT isolated incidents of contaminated drinking water.

REVIEW VIDEO LINKS BELOW
 
COOL CLEAR WATER?

TOUGH TO DRINK BURNING WATER!

REVIEW NEWS LINKS BELOW
 
FILMY WATER VEXES FAMILY

What you need to know about the theft of your mineral estate

In recent months, the gas drilling industry has increased their use of both of these procedures, and what you don't know CAN hurt you!  NCTCA has adoped the position that "Forced Pooling" is a defacto eminent domain "taking" of your mineral estate for private gain, and a Rule 37 Waiver is in fact legally sanctioned THEFT of your mineral estate.  Whether you have signed a mineral lease or not, your personal property and mineral rights can be overridden........

and it's already happening! 

TODAY!

Be there.
Your health depends on it.

YOU are invited!

Those who say it cannot be done should get out of the way of those doing it.

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COMMUNITIES ALLIANCE 

Together we Bargain, Divided we Beg

JUNE 2010 MEETING 
YOUR HEALTH AND NATURAL GAS PRODUCTION

When:  Thursday, June 3, 2010
Where: TRINITY INN SUITES,
2000 Beach Street and IH30
Fort Worth, Texas 76103
Networking @ 6:30
Meeting @ 7:00
 
For a Map Click Here

For this meeting we have a surprise.  Our friends at the Studio Movie Grill have graciously donated two (2) pairs of tickets for BOTH the complimentary movie of your choice and dinner for two!  Plus two more pairs of tickets for the complimentary movie of your choice.

Those who are currently members attending our meeting Thursday, and those who sign up for any level of membership at our Thursday meeting will receive a ticket for the drawing for these terrific prizes!  Remember...it's through you Member support that NCTCA can continue our effective work throughout the entire Barnett Shale area and State.

Program Notes:
Genial Grandmother Is 'Top Gun' in Environmental Activism
FEATURED SPEAKER
Wilma Subra 

Ms. Subra holds degrees in Microbiology and Chemistry from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. She has received the MacArthur Fellowship "Genius" Award from the MacArthur Foundation for helping ordinary citizens understand, cope with and combat environmental issues in their communities. She also was one of three finalists in the Environmental Category of the 2004 Volvo for Life Award.

Wilma started Subra Company, a chemistry lab and environmental consulting firm, in 1981. Her goal was to help citizens and communities understand exposure and health effects of toxins in their environment. "No one was looking out for community groups," Subra says about the early days of her company. Located in New Iberia, Louisiana, Subra Company offers technical assistance and provides the science. These services are needed for communities to get the attention of the industries responsible for the pollution, as well as the agencies responsible for protecting public health and the environment. "I've never had to turn anybody down," Subra says. "They may have to wait a few days, but if they ask, I will do what I can to help them."

"The community comes to me when they are desperate to find out what is happening to them," Subra says. "I can help them find out what the cause of the problem is and how to improve their quality of life. "When results from an investigation are in, Subra briefs the industry and government on what is happening. "The community starts to shine light back on the industry and lets them know how they are impacting the community."

What you need to know about the theft of your mineral estate

In recent months, the gas drilling industry has increased their use of both of these procedures, and what you don't know CAN hurt you!  NCTCA has adoped the position that "Forced Pooling" is a defacto eminent domain "taking" of your mineral estate for private gain, and a Rule 37 Waiver is in fact legally sanctioned THEFT of your mineral estate.  Whether you have signed a mineral lease or not, your personal property and mineral rights can be overridden........

and it's already happening! 

TOXIC LAND LEFT BEHIND AFTER DRILLERS GONE
Dangerous levels of cancer causing Benzene found in 48% of gas facilities tested.

The most at risk for even low to moderate levels of Benzene are children and pregnant mothers.  If we continue to "drill baby drill" without fully knowing and understanding the risks involved, it could easily turn into "kill baby kill."  The drillers will be long gone before our citizens begin to show symptoms of exposure to Benzene and other harmful byproducts of gas drilling.

What are the health risks?
Cancer
Leukemia
Neurological disorders
Birth defects
Emphysema

EVERYONE is invited!

To the NCTCA meeting on Thursday - read all about it here!  Come join us!

Want to meet the Tarrant Regional Water District candidates?  They'll be there too!

Speaking of water, read about the Caddo residents still living without water on TXSharon.

TODAY!

Be there.

May we have your attention please...

NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COMMUNITIES ALLIANCE OPPOSES AIR QUALITY STUDY COMMITTEE SELECTIONS BY FORT WORTH CITY COUNCIL

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - The North Central Texas Communities Alliance (NCTCA) will hold a Press Conference at 6:00 PM, Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at the north entrance to Fort Worth City Hall to voice its opposition to the composition of the committee recommended by the Fort Worth City Council to choose a company and their scope of work in conducting air quality testing at gas drilling locations in Fort Worth.

The council will be presented with a resolution, at their meeting at 7 PM following the press conference. The resolution states the charge to the committee and the names and affiliations of a ten-member committee.

City staff met with NCTCA board members several weeks ago to ask for input regarding the charge to the committee and the make-up of its members. “We unanimously recommended that members have an expertise or an advanced understanding of the industry. However, we made it clear that no member shall represent any of the gas companies or their affiliates,” said Esther McElfish, president of NCTCA. McElfish reiterated that the inclusion of industry representation undermines the credibility of the studies.

It also appears that the five citizens recommended for appointment to the committee have no apparent expertise or experience related to the process, except for a former Gas Drilling Task Force member. "Anyone who's been involved in the gas drilling, pipeline and air quality issues knows that there is a steep learning curve in understanding these complex issues. We don't need well-meaning citizens on the committee who are ‘in training,’ and who could be unduly influenced by industry professionals," cautioned McElfish. "If the vehicle for decision making is illegitimate, then the results will be as well."

NCTCA urges the Mayor, Council and City Manager to conduct a public hearing on this matter at Tuesday night's meeting, to reevaluate the selection process and criteria for proposed committee members, and to postpone a vote on the Resolution for a minimum two weeks.

The North Central Texas Communities Alliance (NCTCA), a grass roots organization of informed and concerned citizens and community groups in the Barnett Shale region of Texas.

Standing Room Only

A crowd at last night's NCTCA meeting last night.

TXSharon has the scoop.

Tonight!!

Be there.

YOU have a busy week

HELP!

Be in Haltom City Tuesday for their proposed 500,000 gallon frac pond on Big Fossil Creek meeting.

They have plans to place a toxic fluid open storage lake in our neighborhood!!

YOU are needed to stop this!

The City of Haltom City Planning Board will meet to discuss this.
Tuesday January 12, 7pm. at Haltom City Hall, 5024 Broadway

Your property is at risk !

Call 817-222-7767 to object on the official record.

On Wednesday be at the NCTCA meeting!

Rescheduled - Be there Wed!!

North Central Texas Communities Alliance is a broad-based coalition of individuals, organizations and communities throughout the Barnett Shale area working on local, state and national levels for positive solutions to the problems related to natural gas drilling and production.

FEATURED SPEAKERS FOR JANUARY
This time of the year weather does not always cooperate, so we must therefore reschedule our meeting to the date listed below:

Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Where: Hotel Trinity - Inn Suites
IH30 @ Beach Street

Doors will open at 6:30pm for coffee, networking
and news interviews.
Meeting will begin at 7:00pm and end at 8:45pm


Senator Wendy Davis

One of our featured speakers will be Senator Davis, who has historically been an advocate for responsible mineral exploration and production in the Barnett Shale. Because of recent evidence of harmful chemicals produced from gas drilling, she and other state elected officials have been calling for additional testing and controls with natural gas drilling and production, and has been a statewide leader for stronger controls, both local and statewide, governing natural gas pipelines.
Mayor Tillman's video remarks

Mayor Calvin Tillman - Dish, Texas

Mayor Tillman has been on the front lines of the battle to keep his town safe and clean from the effects of uncontrolled pipelines and gas drilling within the city limits of Dish Texas. Much of the time being the Lone Ranger in he battle to save some of his town. His views and unique experiences with these very important issues are a must to hear in his own words.
Gas drilling trumps citizen protections?

As the time honored saying goes, you can be a part of the solution or continue to be a part of the problem. Only by working together for the common good can we even begin to protect our communities from unwanted and/or unneeded industrial activities that continue to harm the air we breathe or the water needed to sustain our quality of life.

Please join with us to help protect our future and the continued safety of our families. Our goal is to Communicate, to Educate and to Mobilize north central Texas citizens into action when the need arises.

North Central Texas Communities Alliance
Esther McElfish, Pres.
Gary Hogan, V.P.
Louis McBee, Treas.

www.nctca.net
Quick Links

You are invited!

THURSDAY!

Wise Words

The Wise County Messenger tells you more about Tim Ruggiero.

"They are going to be drilling through the water table," Tim said. "They use carcinogenic chemicals during the fracturing. Some of it might get into the table."

"Do we stay and ruin our health, or leave and ruin our credit?" said Christine of their home in the Allison area.

On Tuesday night, the North Central Texas Communities Alliance (NCTCA) met in Fort Worth to call for a moratorium on further gas production and drilling in the Barnett Shale until several issues are addressed. According to its Web site, the NCTCA is a collection of "individuals, organizations and communities throughout the Barnett Shale area working on local, state and national levels for positive solutions to the problems related to natural gas drilling and pipelines."