Bay Area Sierra Club Meeting: Zombie Texas Oil Wells are leaking toxic waste

The January meeting will be conducted via Zoom.
Starts 6:30 pm for social time; 7:00 pm for program.
Here is the link for the meeting on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/4168201898?pwd=MzBpZ2hvUVFMckw4anlldTh6Tkh3dz09

January 17 Program:
Zombie Texas Oil Wells are leaking toxic waste; who will take responsibility for these?

Amanda Drane, an energy reporter for the Houston Chronicle, will discuss the problem of the retired Texas oil wells which are unplugged and release toxic waste. An unplugged oil well or one with a failing plug can allow a mix of contaminated fluids and chemicals underground to get to the surface. These contaminates can include very salty water, oil, gas, benzene, and sometimes radioactive elements, which can kill plant life at the surface and potentially contaminate groundwater. Because many of these retired wells were drilled decades ago, determining a responsible company or entity for cleanup can be a problem.

Related Houston Chronicle articles by Amanda Drane below.
Zombie Wells, Part 1:
[As Texas oil wells leak toxic waste, no one wants to pay to clean it (houstonchronicle.com)](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/zombie-wells-toxic-waste-taxpayer-cost-18001336.php)
Zombie Wells, Part 2:
[Texas sinkholes, toxic oilfield waste lakes wreak havoc on environment (houstonchronicle.com)](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/oil-wells-texas-ranchers-chaos-18073971.php)
Zombie Wells, Part 3:
[How Texas zombie wells could cause problems in climate change fight (houstonchronicle.com)](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/sinkholes-oil-wells-climate-change-18074000.php)

Bay Area meetings are on 3rd Wednesday of the month and start at 6:30pm for social hour; speaker and discussion from 7-8:30 pm.