Launch of New Respirable Crystalline Silica in Construction Standard, 29 CFR § 1926.1153

Yesterday I snapped a picture of a frack job….

Pic 10/18/17 8am north of I30 and east of 820 white plume

Now that the new OSHA silica standard just went into effect 9/23/2017, I wondered if this pad site was in compliance and if the public would FINALLY get protection from flying frack silica sand in Urban Drilling?

Maybe in 4 years…yep we’re fracked….unless our local Home Rule laws can be add mitigation like this…http://blowing.sucks/289/

Here is the memo:

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OSHA’s overview page of what constitutes a source of silica exposure explicitly states hydraulic fracturing…

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…….BUT when you go to OSHA’s site, they separate construction from mining……..

But in “general industry” which includes fracking/mining, OSHA shows what these new limits/standards are…….

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……and while the new standard took effect last month, 100% compliance isn’t mandated til June of next year in 2018…… A N D, it also shows how the fracking industry doesn’t have to retool with engineering preventions until mid year of 2021. Which means the non-employees (TCEQ calls it receptors- I call them the General Unsuspecting Public Innocent Guinea Pigs of Urban Drilling) do not get silica airborne protections like the workers do.  So in addition to face protections, some other measures are to wet it down or use a vacuum. 

But then what does the Health Department and TCEQ do to protect the public?……..AskMSHA@dol.gov and your local city government……

—– Forwarded Message —–
From: kim feil <kimfeil@sbcglobal.net>
To: Don Crowson <don.crowson@arlingtontx.gov>; Trey Yelverton <trey.yelverton@arlingtontx.gov>; Jim Parajon <jim.parajon@arlingtontx.gov>; Jeff Williams <jeff.williams@arlingtontx.gov>; Lana Wolff <lana.wolff@arlingtontx.gov>; Charlie Parker <charlie.parker@arlingtontx.gov>; Michael Glaspie <michael.glaspie@arlingtontx.gov>; Kathryn Wilemon <kathryn.wilemon@arlingtontx.gov>; Sheri Capehart <sheri.capehart@arlingtontx.gov>; Victoria Myers <victoria.farrar-myers@arlingtontx.gov>; Robert Shepard <robert.shepard@arlingtontx.gov>; John Dugan <john.dugan@arlingtontx.gov>; “roxanne.thalman@arlingtontx.gov” <roxanne.thalman@arlingtontx.gov>; Cynthia Simmons <cynthia.simmons@arlingtontx.gov>; Jessica Youngblood <jessica.youngblood@arlingtontx.gov>; Jim Self <jim.self@arlingtontx.gov>; Jay W. White <jay.white@arlingtontx.gov>
Cc: Brett Shipp <bshipp@wfaa.com>
Sent: Monday, October 23, 2017 8:38 AM
Subject: Fw: Q on Public Protections for New Silica Standards

http://blowing.sucks/289/

Since HB40 states we cannot regulate subsurface oil and gas activities, lets add an item to our Gas Drilling Ordinance to mandate the MITIGATION of flying silica dust (which won’t officially be federally required til mid 2021 for the fracking industry).

Thank you.

Kim Feil

—– Forwarded Message —–
From: kim feil <kimfeil@sbcglobal.net>
To: “AskMSHA@dol.gov” <AskMSHA@dol.gov>
Sent: Monday, October 23, 2017 8:12 AM
Subject: Q on Public Protections for New Silica Standards

Subject: Does the new OSHA Silica Laws pertain to fracking?
I saw fracking sand flying from the highway yesterday (once I was enveloped in frac sand flying and had heart palpitations and disorientation in having to drive through a nearby frac job). The new OSHA construction silica standard took effect recently, but I see the mining industry may not be subject to these standards. If the mining for minerals industry is exempt to retool to prevent flying frac sand by 2021, please advise how to at least protect the general public from silica exposures in the interum, thanks.

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Well opacity violations are far and few between…like this Arlington event…..that backs up to a densely populated neighborhood!

 Here are two stills from above video that shows before and after pics of the “sock/pillow-case” pathetic current mitigation system….

 

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