Now that BP has caught your attention to the disaster that can and does happen when officials pay no attention to rules and safety; let’s bring that picture home to Freestone county and what is happening here and now.

Those of you that have access to computers go to scorecard.com, type in your zip code. Those who do not have a computer go to your local library and you can use one of theirs. You will see a survey that was done nationwide in 2002. The sad part is Freestone county scored in the top 10 nationwide of the most toxic counties to live in. I became aware of the report in 2005 and have been talking about it since. Big Brown is the main polluter, now add all the oil/gas wells and compression stations that have been added since then. We are a disaster waiting to happen.

If you still doubt, read the book by Jamie L. Long, “Big Oil in Small Town America.” You can find it on the computer, also. Just type in: Big Oil in Small Town America in the search engine. It’s the exact same effects that happened in a small town in Michigan that is happening all over Freestone county.

What can be done? Our county commissioners can enact rules that the EPS and TCEQ then could enforce. Add the air monitor next to Big Brown as requested. Enact rules on the compression stations that from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. would have to operate at their lowest frequency. People, animals and environment could rest properly. Without proper rest, disease, heart attacks, strokes are at their highest. Freestone county has extremely high rates of disease, heart attacks and strokes that can be directly linked to the effects of the oil/gas wells and the compression stations, and lastly and most important is your nutrition. It must be organic food and supplementation to minimize the toxic effects of the environment.

What’s the chance of any of this happening? None, if you don’t get involved. If you don’t do it, no one will. Do it for the kids if you don’t want to do it for yourselves. Their future depends on your action now! Sincerely, Marguerite Jordan Certified Herbalist Organic Grower Concerned Citizen for the Environment