NATURAL GAS DRILLING-INTO WHAT???

If you are concerned about Mountain Creek Lake, the soil and groundwater at the Dallas Naval Air Station, the Naval Weapons facility and its broken aquifer; you might be interested in this public information.
Hensley Field at the Naval Air Station was leased for natural gas drilling by TXO Energy of Ft. Worth, as reported by the Dallas Observer in the fall of 2008.
What timing! Just when I was wondering if any radioactive contamination lurks at Dallas former military sites, I learned about the drilling. A wake-up call, let me tell you!

My research on radioactivity at military bases is basic, but I know radioactive waste is commonly found on these sites. Military bases were licensed to harbor nuclear materials, and any leaks or spills were to be reported, with clean up carefully documented. Waste was possibly disposed of on site. When bases were de-commissioned, complete assessment of base safety was required.

In a few states-not Texas-government properties were not evaluated for radiation contamination, as they should have been. This don't ask/don't tell or don't check way of doing things is causing present day problems for development of federal "repurposed" land. Example- The Denver Federal Center.

In a nutshell, when records exist that show radioactive waste was present at a government site and even disposed of there, and no definitive proof of clean up/removal exists; the site is not ready for re-development. If a developer builds on that site without proof of a true, thorough clean up, construction workers are exposed to contaminated water and soil (not to mention everyone else ever on the premises). This is a very serious situation...life-or-death-serious for workers. *

Hopefully, Dallas has no problems like the Denver Fed Center, which has a small nuclear reactor, and similarly toxic sites in California, but official records would help, especially in light of drilling. (I'm continuing to search for records and have asked for expert help in finding them.)

I do think it's fair to assume that any material having to do with the manufacture and repair of planes with weapons could be found in the soil and water of Mountain Creek Lake and the properties/businesses along the lake. Records of contaminants can be very general and presented so as to minimize findings. I'm thinking specifically of a guy who answered my question about radioactivity at a site -not with a document-but with nervous laughter and a speech about different kinds of radon and an enthralling account of the Cold War-radiation everywhere due to missile testing in the 60s! So that explains it...Truth is, on many Air Force bases in Texas and beyond, radioactive waste is assumed to be buried in places yet unknown. So..would it be safe to drill for natural gas on a de-commissioned base? Maybe, but we need to know about testing.

Surely natural gas drilling would not be permitted on land atop the Naval Weapons TCE/ VOC laden aquifer. There is, however, reason to be concerned about drill bits with their accompanying carcinogenic chemicals hitting aquifers - especially between Mt Creek Lake and the Trinity River and in the neighboring area extending into Grand Prairie.
Yes, we need natural gas as an alternative form of energy...And, yes, we need to protect our water supply. Please study these issues and speak your conscience - against drilling, or for strong-very strong-oversight. We must not let decisions about our survival be made by profiteers who jump on the energy band-wagon. May quality companies drill very carefully, if they must.

* Google Denver Federal Center +"Grounds For Concern" for text and video - researched and written by Adrienne Anderson - formerly of Oak Cliff. There is much more to this story!

**The main Grand Prairie library is the repository for Naval Weapons Center records...at least the ones publicly available.