Freer, Texas 1960

This is how the major oil companies operated in South Texas. They took the wealth and left behind the mess. The region suffers from incredible high rates of cancer, autism, diabetes, auto immune disorders and other unexplained illnesses. Gee, I wonder why. ExxonMobil, El Paso Corp, Chevron, Sun Oil, and Conoco Phillips were the major operators.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• benzene
• groundwater contamination
• duval county
• freer texas
• exxonmobil
• oilfield production pits

[derekdz]

Don't forget to mention what the terrain is composed of and the type of natural vegetation. This area is rocky, sandy soils covered in brush, no trees. This type of geography looks "worse" in aerial photography as it is more baron than a wooded region. So yes, any ground modifications will still be apparent decades in the future in aerial photography, not just from oil field modifications, but from old roads, structures, and so forth.

[rancholosmalulos]

@derekdz

What was your grandfather's name? Please email if you want to contribute to a documentary about the area legacy oilfield issues. You seem very familiar with the area. I have talked to a lot of locals and you certainly have a different perspective. It's always good to have different opinions.

[derekdz]

@rancholosmalulos

Thank you for your kind reply. I guess I have an interesting view point on issues because I am pro oil field, pro environmental, pro health, and safety.

[rancholosmalulos]

@derekdz

Actually, I am pro oilfield, too. I think if you took a tour of our ranch, you would really be appalled. The old fields were never decomissioned properly. It's a statewide problem and I think it's well recognized within the industry. Its unfortunate because the bad operators who work the system tarnish it for the good operators.

Thanks for watching my movies and commenting. Even when I don't agree with comments, I'm glad to have people make them.

[derekdz]

I have a family member who is 90 years old that lives in Freer, TX. He has lived there since the late 1960's and has worked in these oil fields till the 1980's. He's a healthy man.

[rancholosmalulos]

@derekdz

I would love to meet this family member and interview him for a documentary I am working on.

[texjsl]

The oil industry has been regulated now and you won't see any of that going on. It's unfortunate, but we learned as a society over time what harms our land. Without any oil discovery, Freer would have ended up like Catarina or other towns that were promoted by out of town snake oil salesmen. I often wonder what N.G. Collins thought Freer would end up like. His Americano, Palangana, Manzana and Barronena ranches comprised almost 70,000 acres in Duval County at one time.

[southernspectre]

my momma is from Freer Tx, I practically lived there growing up, was gonna get a welding gig at Freer Ironworks but other things came up. My aunt moved from Freer about 2 years ago. My grandma lived there till she passed goin on ten years ago. I LOVE Freer, its like my other hometown. Gonna take the wife to the roundup this year for sure.

[derekdz]

Of course back then, in 1960 there weren't any regulations for lining the pits or how many to build, so they didn't do anything illegal here in this video.

[rancholosmalulos]

@mjkwyo

yes, this is the old stuff. The new stuff doesn't look like this. All this old contamination has been left behind and it makes people sick.