Anti-fracker dirty tricks?
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2014 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Several landowners in Johnson County who had oil and gas leases received a letter recently which appeared to terminate their leases with Woolsey Energy Corp…
“We are writing to inform you that the Oil and Gas Lease you have signed with our company, Woolsey Energy Corp., has been terminated” the letter to the oil and gas leaseholder began. “We offer our sincere apologies for this severance of our business relationship.”
The letter, which can be read here, is a fake. But it looks real at first. It has the company’s letterhead and the hoaxters even used an official-looking envelope.
But the reasons given for terminating the leases are pretty obviously not from an oil and gas company perspective. It cites the potential for fracking-induced earthquakes, possible contamination of water supplies and even birth defects.
* The energy company’s owner was not amused…
The company was alerted to the letter after receiving a copy from one of the mineral owners, he said.
“It is outrageous and very disturbing that whoever sent the letter would be using this tactic,” Sooter said.
* And the leading anti-fracking group in the region denies responsibility…
“I have no knowledge of anyone even loosely affiliated with SAFE doing something like that,” [Annette McMichael of Southern Illinoisans Against Fracturing Our Environment] said. “We absolutely condemn the letters. Any deceitful tactic is harmful to the movement.”
* Meanwhile, fracking proponents are holding a press conference today…
COALITION FOR HYDRAULIC FRACTURING SAYS PROPOSED RULES FAIL TO MATCH CAREFULLY NEGOTIATED LEGISLATION
WHO: Mark Denzler, vice president and COO, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association
Brad Richards, executive VP, Illinois Oil and Gas Association
Jason Keller, legislative director, AFL-CIO
Tom Wolf, executive director, Energy Council, Illinois Chamber of Commerce
WHAT: Conference call with reporters and members of the GROW-IL coalition to detail their concerns with the hydraulic fracturing rules drafted by the IDNR. GROW-IL is asking the state’s JCAR committee to direct IDNR to redraft the rules guided by statute.
Ain’t nobody happy.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Sep 10, 14 @ 10:25 am:
- Ain’t nobody happy. -
Probably means IDNR is right.
- d - Wednesday, Sep 10, 14 @ 10:30 am:
IDNR is probably right. But now we will see JCAR in all their glory. The clueless jcar staffers, tying to judge things they know nothing about, and then the politicians, paid buy the interests fighting it out, having the final say. Jcar, how wonderful art thou!
- Reader - Wednesday, Sep 10, 14 @ 10:43 am:
Sending fake letters via the postal service is mail fraud, a felony punishable with a prison term. I hope all effected parties report this to the authorities.
- walker - Wednesday, Sep 10, 14 @ 10:57 am:
==It is outrageous and very disturbing.==
Absolutely agree.
To somehow bring criticism of JCAR into this is nonsense.
- flea - Wednesday, Sep 10, 14 @ 11:03 am:
If IDNR is “right” a miracle of some sort just occurred…..
- John A Logan - Wednesday, Sep 10, 14 @ 11:05 am:
When no one is happy, usually its good legislation.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Sep 10, 14 @ 11:08 am:
–But the reasons given for terminating the leases are pretty obviously not from an oil and gas company perspective. It cites the potential for fracking-induced earthquakes, possible contamination of water supplies and even birth defects.–
Not much of a hoax, when you put it that way.
But very, very stupid to use the mail for such self-amusement, as has been pointed out.
You might think you’re just being a prankster, but once you drop it in a mailbox, you’ve literally made a federal case out of it, if someone is inclined to tune you up.
- Cook County Commoner - Wednesday, Sep 10, 14 @ 11:46 am:
And don’t forget forgery. Wayne Woolsey’s signature appears on the letter.
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Sep 10, 14 @ 12:08 pm:
It would have been really cool if the words on the fake letterhead were all jumbled around like it was being written AS IF AN EARTHQUAKE WAS ACTUALLY HAPPENING!
Time to claim fracking leads to global cooling - I mean - look out the window! We are really suffering here!
- Envelopes two Letters - Wednesday, Sep 24, 14 @ 10:28 am:
It’s awesome designed for me to have a web site, which is beneficial in support of my know-how.
thanks admin