PHOTOS

Send your photos to info@bakkenwatch.org.

THE SENDER OF THESE PHOTOS SAYS:

"This shows the aftermath of record flooding in the confluence area [Missouri River/Yellowstone] on Saturday, August 20th [2011]...I discovered much of the backwater/channels are severely contaminated with crude oil from the nearby Bringham or Zenergy wells that were flooded with several feet of water. Globs of crude were piled up on shore and slicks were everywhere. As this is such a remote location, I'm unsure whether anyone is aware about this affected area."  

THE SENDER OF THESE PHOTOS SAYS THIS EQUIPMENT IS JUST WEST OF WILLISTON. WHY IS THE STATE OF ND ALLOWING THIS EQUIPMENT TO BE BUILT AND USED SO CLOSE TO OUR WATER SUPPLY?

THE SENDER OF THIS PHOTO SAYS HEAVY EQUIPMENT WAS NOT SECURED AND BEGAN FALLING FROM THE TRUCKBED. NOTICE THE SEMI APPROACHING FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION.

THE SENDER OF THIS PHOTO (NORTHWESTERN ND) SAYS THAT THIS CONTAMINATED TAP WATER APPEARED WITH NEARBY FRACKING ACTIVITY. SAYS THE SENDER:

"I would like to personally thank Senator Hoeven and the State of North Dakota for my wonderful quality of water. This is what I wash my dishes in, shower and brush my teeth with. All the cattle in this area also drink this; that would probably be the steak you will eat tonight."

THIS IS NOT THE ARNEGARD FIRE. THIS PHOTO WAS SENT ANONYMOUSLY. THE SENDER SAYS:

"Black smoke from Brigham oil well approx 1/4 mile away from Stoney Creek School, rural Williston.

The smoke was traveling SE over the City of Williston."

The sender of this photo says that this is frack water dumped from a truck along highway 1804 in the Williston area.

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This photo was sent from a ND farmer with a note that says:

"Within weeks of fracking jobs on well sites in the area of our land and water, our cattle go from healthy, productive animals to almost dead. This is a young cow that was in very good shape when she came in from pasture this fall. I fight now to keep her alive. This is not the first in our herd this has happened to. "

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Bakken Watch has received a copy of  medical blood test results from a rural North Dakotan who has experienced a wide variety of symptoms and illnesses since fracking began very near the family home & farm. Here is a copy of one family member's test. Note that the arsenic level is extremely high; a level over 50 is the limit. This test shows the level over 130. Also notice the germanium level; it is over 50. A level over 10 must be reported to the North Dakota Department of Health. (Arrows and notes in parentheses have been added by Bakken Watch.)

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Here's a photo sent to Bakken Watch recently. The sender says:

"Attached is a photo of sludge leaking from a Brigham Oil & Gas wellsite located on 131st Ave NW, Williston, ND.   The sludge running down the hill contains pit waste.  This spill was not reported to EPA by the State of ND. "




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This is a photo of someone living in northwest North Dakota and has been very sick since drilling began on many locations near her land. She has supplied Bakken Watch with her medical records to back up her claims. The air is not monitored by the state health department or the EPA in that part of the state. Says the sender:
"Here is a pic of the rash I have over my entire body, head to toe. I have tried everything to get it to heal up; it's from gases and chemicals. I've had it for over a year now. My hands get so bad they crack and bleed. Doctors are afraid of infection starting. It has caused permanent scarring."

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Photo sent by a Bakken Watcher in North Dakota. Says the sender:

"This is what our fields look like. They let their garbage blow over pastures and fields and don't bother to pick it up--chemical bags, drilling mud bags, etc. It is a constant fight to clean up litter after them."

  

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The sender of this photo says:

"This is a picture of one of their waste pits near my house. As you can see, the pit is not lined. The waste soaks into the ground, all around the pit, and onto the roads. The pit contains chemicals from drilling and fracking that are allowed to run off into fields and pastures by rainwater. It is also not fenced or netted to protect livestock and wildlife."

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This from another North Dakotan:
"This is a pic of one of my innocent babies affected by all of this. Their eyes and noses get just full of blood from the harsh air. I treat them with meds and try to find a home away from here for them. It breaks my heart to see animals like this. Some have gotten so bad we have to have them put to sleep so they don't suffer. I spoke with 2 of my neighbors today. Both are having problems and are getting worse with the winter months, and now there are reports of animals going blind. I suspected this of several of my cows and cats but wasn't sure; now I am. This is so hard on animals. They do not deserve this."

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This comes from a North Dakota farmer (you know, the ones who put food on our plates):


"One of the largest companies working in this area has some 111 sites at this time in ND and is allowed to let all gases and chemicals vent off into the air instead of burning to flares. You can see the pipes on top of the tanks which allow everything into the air--natural gas, methane, ethane, sulfur dioxide and the dangerous green house gases and toxic chemicals that come back out of the ground from fracking. They are just released into the air for us to breathe. There are some 25 sites like this just in a 10 mile area of our home. These gases accumulate in buildings, houses, and low areas and do not dissipate for years."

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The sender of this photo says that this full bucket of toxic chemicals was found on the side of a North Dakota road after falling off a truck. Many buckets like this are found along ND roadsides.

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This rusted tank is being used for oil production in North Dakota. The photographer also says that another rusted-out tank sits right next to this one and that the state has been informed of this violation, but the tanks remain in operation. It takes YEARS for metal to deteriorate like this. What is escaping from this open tank? What is falling into it and dying? Who is looking out for us?

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Bakken Watch is receiving complaints from North Dakotans about truck drivers in the oil industry who drive with excessive speeds, run stop signs, and do not pull over for emergency vehicles. This video, sent to Bakken Watch, illustrates these complaints. Notice the driver's comment toward the end of the video: "Love that money!"