Archive for August, 2011

Fracking: Frack Vs Fiction

Posted on August 31st, 2011 in Dust Control, Environmental, Industry Watchdog by Bob Vitale

A recent Wall Street Journal article goes into wonderful detail on how this 60 year-old technique has revitalized our gas industry and is impacting our ability to create energy, LOCALLY. No dealing with foreign countries, no jobs overseas. Right here in our own US of A backyard.

It now accounts for 25% of our gas supply and has brought what was once $15 per million BTUs to $4.

Something to be excited about no? Well not so fast. Environmentalists and their allies have come out against hydraulic fracturing and are raising public concern. The article goes on to separate Fact from Fiction.

•  Fracking contaminates drinking water allowing chemicals to leach into water sources. And Fracking
can release methane gas into our drinking water. Read the article, both NOT TRUE.

•  Fracking releases toxic or radioactive chemicals. With 99.5% of the fluid injected into fracture rock
is water and sand. Again, NOT TRUE.

•  Fracking causes cancer. Fracking causes earthquakes. Shale exploration is unregulated.
Again all untrue.

Pollution from trucks. This however is a fact, and in the article it talks about risk vs reward. It is obvious that the author of the article, and most likely the companies that were interviewed for the research are not connected to the Dust Control Industry. We need to work with energy industry leaders and show them how we can help minimize and prevent pollution that stems from fracking with high-quality dust and road stabilization techniques that are proven and available today. The reality is our solutions did not even exists 10 years ago, so the old way of thinking needs to be transformed with our new solutions.

My personal mission, and the DNA of my company Midwest is to be an environmental steward in the area of dust control, where we can impact the safety of both air and water. As an industry we need to step up and let the environmentalists know there are wonderful solutions that can help keep and grow fracking as a preferred technique to support our energy solutions. There you have it, all fracks.

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Dust Control: Be Sure To Get What You Pay For

Posted on August 23rd, 2011 in Dust Control by Bob Vitale

I hate to read articles like this that give the dust control industry a bad name. One of two things happened here; The developers paid for a short-term dust control solution, or the developers paid for a long-term solution but the wrong product was installed. Either way, no reason for this. Enough said..

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Will Blacktop Driveways and Parking Lots Soon Be a Thing of The Past?

Posted on August 8th, 2011 in Industry Watchdog by Bob Vitale

Officials of the U.S. Geological Survey in Austin Texas told Long Island Suffolk County lawmakers a ban on coal tar sealers for driveways and parking lots could begin to significantly reduce contamination within five years and cut it in half in 15 years.

Now take a moment to think about this. Think about our driveways that are coal tar-based blacktops. Our kids are playing basketball on them, drawing chalk games and down on their hands and knees on them. How many times have you seen your kids hands and skin black from playing on these blacktops. And now discussions are taking place about the environmental impact on coal tar sealers.

There is a solution; Non-asphaltic alternative paving system that are “green” and eco-friendly. Many of your neighbors have already installed them. Many parks and town walking trails as well. If you are involved with your local schools or communities, and there are construction projects being considered, look for alternatives to coal tar blacktop.

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