October 24, 2016 - Shirley Shofner, Center resident, addressed the commissioners on what the county's response or action might be concerning problems encountered in the Timpson area with earthquakes in recent years and the possibility of it happening again in the future.
"I have been in contact with Senator Nichols office. In 2014 he had a meeting in Nacogdoches, a good many of Shelby County residents were there. We had someone there, we had the executive director of the Railroad Commission there, as well as the state geologist. I have not got the results from what the state found, but I have been in contact with Senator Nichols' Office and they're trying to get some data to me," said Judge Allison Harbison.
Judge Harbison said she isn't sure why a report from the Railroad Commission and state geologists office has not been received by her office. She stated Senator Nichols' office is working on getting that report for her. She said the problems are pointed at the injection wells which are administered by the Railroad Commission.
Shofner asked if there is nothing the county can do, and Judge Harbison said she doesn't believe the county has power over it, but the permits for injection wells come through the Railroad Commission.
"The county has no authority over this, the injection wells is a Railroad Commission permit and they don't ask the county or anything about any of that," said Judge Harbison.
Shofner asked if the county can't object to the Railroad Commission and Judge Harbison agreed that anyone can make such an objection. Shofner felt under those circumstances it would make a greater impact if the county were to issue an objection.
"It possibly would, I don't know, I know those reports are put on file in the [County] Clerk's office. As far as getting the reports directly, I don't get them directly, the County Clerk does," said Judge Harbison.
Shofner said she doesn't want everyone to wait until something happens again before doing anything. Judge Harbison said she agrees and that was why she attended the meeting in 2014. Shofner shared concerns over a large piece of property, 500 acres, being developed for saltwater injection.
Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, asked for Travis Rodgers, Commissioner Precinct 3, to comment on the fight which was had on the Haslam Strip in Joaquin and numerous people objected to wells being put in there, but the wells are there.
"Railroad Commission will not listen, and people have got to realize too it goes back to all that money and the lobbyists and power," said McSwain.
Rodgers stated, "It is strictly controlled by the Railroad Commission. The state of Texas, county at the time that we checked on it had no say so whatsoever. We do not have to sign any paper, we do not have to agree to anything. The only thing that we can do as far as saltwater, if we can catch them, is charge them for damage on the road if they're caught and you've got to have documentation on that," said Rodgers.
McSwain commented on the stiff regulations in Louisiana regarding saltwater injection compared to what he suggests is more lax oversight in Texas, "They can't dump it at night and things like that, well we're catching all of it and getting all the damage over here."
"All the contaminated saltwater they couldn't dump in Louisiana or didn't dump in Louisiana they brought it to Texas and that was one of the main complaints that we had," said Rodgers.
Jim Barrett, a Timpson resident, was at the 2014 Railroad Commission meeting and when asked why Louisiana could send the saltwater into Texas and it couldn't be stopped by Texas, "they said that was controlled by the Interstate Commerce Commission. So not even the Railroad Commission could stop them once the well was there."
Judge Harbison said she is looking forward to a report from Senator Nichols office.
"I will get back with Senator Nichols Office, because he's the one that had the meeting and to see if what was decided or if anything was decided and let them know that there's still objections in the Timpson area," said Judge Harbison.
The contract for 9-1-1 exclusivity, which ACE EMS has maintained since 2012, is up for renewal and a motion carried for the advertisement for ambulance services for 9-1-1 dispatch.
"The contract is gonna be up in December and we need to advertise for that. I've gotten, of course ACE [EMS] is interested as well as another ambulance service, Force [EMS] is interested so I think we need to advertise for that for them to give us proposals," said Judge Harbison.
Also approved during the meeting was to pay monthly expenses and Fiscal Year 2016 budget line item transfers.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:44am.
Since the occurrence of earthquakes in the northern portion of Shelby County, scientific studies began to determine the cause of the tremors. As time has passed, reports have been produced from the findings of the scientistific community and are accessible online. Some are free to access, and more recent reports are partially available with the option of paying to delve further into the research findings.
This report is one which was written in 2012, and suggests the possibility of fluid injection as the cause of the earthquakes: The 17 May 2012 M4.8 earthquake near Timpson, East Texas: An event possibly triggered by fluid injection
The following article is available for brief review and offers the ability to read further for a fee: Geomechanical analysis of fluid injection and seismic fault slip for the Mw4.8 Timpson, Texas, earthquake sequence
Shelby County Today was in attendance for the 2014 meeting held in Nacogdoches with Railroad Commission representatives. The following is the article from that meeting: Timpson Citizens Share Earthquake Woes with Railroad Commission Representatives
