Exxon Mobile CEO Sues To Stop Fracking Near His Texas Ranch 317
Hugh Pickens DOT Com writes "Exxon Mobile's CEO Rex Tillerson's day job is to do all he can to protect and nurture the process of hydraulic fracturing—aka 'fracking'—so that his company can continue to rake in billions via the production and sale of natural gas. 'This type of dysfunctional regulation is holding back the American economic recovery, growth, and global competitiveness,' said Tillerson in 2012 of attempts to increase oversight of drilling operations. But now Rick Unger reports at Forbes that Tillerson has joined a lawsuit seeking to shut down a fracking project near his Texas ranch. Why? Because the 160 foot water tower being built next to Tillerson's house that will supply the water to the near-by fracking site, means the arrival of loud trucks, an ugly tower next door, and the general unpleasantness that will interfere with the quality of his life and the real estate value of his sizeable ranch. The water tower is being built by Cross Timbers Water Supply Corp., a nonprofit utility that has supplied water to the region for half a century. Cross Timbers says that it is required by state law to build enough capacity to serve growing demand. In 2011, Bartonville denied Cross Timbers a permit to build the water tower, saying the location was reserved for residences. The water company sued, arguing that it is exempt from municipal zoning because of its status as a public utility. In May 2012, a state district court judge agreed with Cross Timbers and compelled the town to issue a permit. The utility resumed construction as the town appealed the decision. Later that year, the Tillersons and their co-plaintiffs sued Cross Timbers, saying that the company had promised them it wouldn't build a tower near their properties. An Exxon spokesman said Tillerson declined to comment. The company 'has no involvement in the legal matter' and its directors weren't told of Mr. Tillerson's participation, the spokesman said."
First person account (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:"To Stop Fracking"? (Score:5, Interesting)
Well this is in part due to the halliburton loophole allowing them to not list
8 very nasty and toxic chemicals they are leaking into the water table.
Watch the film "Gasland" and realize that some of the oil & gas lobby
has been hired to poo poo the film because it might hurt their business.
Keep in mind some ppl get royalty checks off oil and gas leases, etc etc
and they are biased by the money flowing in from it.
Re:NIMBY NIMBY NIMBY!!! (Score:4, Interesting)
Halliburton loophole was created to hide 8 chemicals from publication.
Samples taken show that there are outlawed chemicals.
Google "Halliburton Loophole" you troll shill Ahole.
Huh, so if the purpose is fracking then, by definition, whatever you squirt down into the earth is not a pollutant. That's pretty rich. I have also heard another cop-out, which may or may not be accurate, that companies can claim "trade secrets" to avoid the EPA even just knowing what they squirt down, let alone rule on whether or not it constitutes pollution.
Sickening.
Re:Rich, white hypocrites? Say it aint so!!! (Score:5, Interesting)
So basically he's suing to stop the fracking, because without that water tower they can't frack on that land.
The tower is an excuse.
Re:Rich, white hypocrites? Say it aint so!!! (Score:4, Interesting)
There is no proof offered one way or the other on his feelings toward fracking in the area though and to imply otherwise is disingenuous at best.
Re:Rich, white hypocrites? Say it aint so!!! (Score:5, Interesting)
Really? And on what basis do you assert this? What's the income of the union presidents?
Yep, unions are a waste of time... of course, you like working 60+ hour weeks with declining benifits (if you have any), and decreasing vacation days (or, since they've done the "modern" thing, and merged your sick time with your vacation time to be "paid time off", don't get sick).
And btw, I googled what "exempt salaried" meant in the US, legally... and found that there's a *special* exemption for computer people, meaning they can say "whatever it takes", and claim the benifits of having you salaried... and not paying you for, say, snow days, meaning you're really just hourly, with no chance of a union.
There are two kinds of Republicans and Libertarians: millionaires, and suckers.
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