For those interested, I received this "heads up" from the President of the LCA today. Seems that a group is petitioning the gov't to "frack" in the Sam Houston National Forest (near Lake Conroe). Contact info is included if you are inclined to voice your opinions either way. My apologies for the long read...this is not my work.

FIGHT FRACKING IN LAKE CONROE AND SAM HOUSTON NATIONAL FOREST

By:  Mike Bleier, President, Lake Conroe Association

Under the radar of State and Local leadership, The National Forest and Grasslands in Texas (NFGT) is attempting to lease land in our Sam Houston National Forest for Oil & Gas Exploration (most specifically, fracking).  THOSE OPPOSED MUST FILE OBJECTIONS BY OCTOBER 11, 2019

NFGT purports to have followed all required notifications of such an action, and most likely have complied with the minimal effort the government requires.  Minimal effort also minimizes objections.  Maybe this is why the September 26, 2019 Public Meeting held in Willis and presented by NFGT was attended by less than 10 people.  Without help from the Center For Biologic Diversity, the Lake Conroe Association (LCA) would not have known about this proposed lease.  Once aware of the situation, the LCA contacted the following entities none of which had heard of the lease:  San Jacinto River Authority, City of Houston, Montgomery County, Texas Parks & Wildlife, State Senators and Representatives.  We guess minimal effort in NFGTs notification worked to minimize objections.

We are not opponents to Oil & Gas Exploration like some.  But fracking in our National Forest and around our water supply reservoir, Lake Conroe?  The dangers seem obvious even taking into account the safety reported by the fracking industry.  Explanations from NFGT like The contractors will have adequate insurance to cover any damage they cause and Contractor sites will be continually monitored do nothing to stop possible land and water contamination; nor alleviate the indescribable damage that could be caused to our water supply, air quality, wildlife, plants and trees.

And why would NFGT put our community in danger?  Certainly not because we need the oil or gas.  Our government has this month reported that we have the lowest dependence on foreign oil and gas in our history.  Between the East Texas Oil Field (the 2^nd largest oil field in the U.S.) and the Newark East Gas Field (the largest producible reserves in the U.S.), Texas or our nation do not need the minimal (by comparison) production that could come from the Sam Houston National Forest and neighboring Lake Conroe.   We can see no other answer than NFGT wants the money associated with leasing our National Forest.  We thought the National Forests were designated to protect the environment and serve the publics need for recreational areas.  Arent they supposed to be used for hiking, camping, hunting, fishing and pure relaxation with nature?  Guess how much fun those activities will be with fracking rig towers, water pits, odor and noise pollution.  Then theres Forest roads occupied and damaged by oil field equipment, damage to the Forest floor, restrictions on where you can hunt and fish, and that outside possibility of environmental and water supply contamination.  The reward is not worth the risk.

YOU CAN HELP by writing your objection by the October 11, 2019 filing deadline.  NOT MUCH TIME.  For more information to this proposed lease, you can go to http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/texas/oil-and-gas.  You can submit comments via this website; or by mail to Oil & Gas EIS Project, National Forests and Grasslands in Texas, 2221 N. Raguet Street, Lufkin, Texas  75904; or by fax to (936) 639-8588.  Further, you may contact the local coordinator of the project:  Robert Potts, Robert.potts@usda.gov, (936) 639-8539.  

MAKE A DIFFERENCE.  SPEND 30 MINUTES AND MAKE YOUR OPINION KNOWN.  PLEASE.