FLOW
Mixing Oil and Water
Film Screening and Discussion
Thursday, February 18, 2016, 5-7 p.m.
Liberal Arts Building 1st Floor & Library Room 148, MSU Billings
Photos: Anastasia Swarthout
|
In collaboration with Northern Plains Resource Council, this evening provided an opportunity for our community to learn more about oil and gas development and its effects on water resources. A screening of Eric Warren's "Mixing Oil and Water" was followed by a facilitated audience discussion with comments from Sue Beug and Becky Mitchell.
|
Promotional poster by Patrick Mueller
|
"Mixing Oil and Water" - filmed and edited by Eric Warren
Present-day shale oil and gas development and energy systems are tightly intertwined. Mixing Oil and Water illustrates that water scarcity, quality, variability, and uncertainty are becoming more prominent in Montana where oil and gas development occurs. What are we willing to sacrifice in order to carry out extreme fossil fuel development?
Video may be viewed on Vimeo here.
Present-day shale oil and gas development and energy systems are tightly intertwined. Mixing Oil and Water illustrates that water scarcity, quality, variability, and uncertainty are becoming more prominent in Montana where oil and gas development occurs. What are we willing to sacrifice in order to carry out extreme fossil fuel development?
Video may be viewed on Vimeo here.
Eric Warren
Eric Warren never went to film school. Rather, he received his professional training in photography and creative writing. He began his film career in the travel industry shooting a web series about Maine and then shooting a sizzle reel for a TV show about beer brewers traveling the US in search of beer recipes. From there, he began producing films for Matador Network including a documentary-series about Chile’s controversial dam project. After moving back to Montana, his projects have revolved around Montana subjects, such as a film about water quality in areas of oil and gas production and a film about the Montana Art Mobile. He is currently working on a feature-length documentary about atmospheric carbon sequestration in soil.
Eric Warren never went to film school. Rather, he received his professional training in photography and creative writing. He began his film career in the travel industry shooting a web series about Maine and then shooting a sizzle reel for a TV show about beer brewers traveling the US in search of beer recipes. From there, he began producing films for Matador Network including a documentary-series about Chile’s controversial dam project. After moving back to Montana, his projects have revolved around Montana subjects, such as a film about water quality in areas of oil and gas production and a film about the Montana Art Mobile. He is currently working on a feature-length documentary about atmospheric carbon sequestration in soil.
Sue Beug
"I grew up in Colorado on a farm on front range and attended Colorado State. I've been a resident of Red Lodge since 1974 working in a veterinary practice with my husband. I have always been interested in environmental issues and joined Carbon County Resource Council because of that interest. We have both oil and gas development on our farm in Colorado and when there was a renewal of interest in further development here I became concerned. I am especially concerned about maintaining water quantity and quality in the face of oil and gas development. I feel that water is a resource we take for granted and often fail to protect. As we face dryer conditions and more and more threats of pollution we must take a stand to protect that which is necessary for life itself."
"I grew up in Colorado on a farm on front range and attended Colorado State. I've been a resident of Red Lodge since 1974 working in a veterinary practice with my husband. I have always been interested in environmental issues and joined Carbon County Resource Council because of that interest. We have both oil and gas development on our farm in Colorado and when there was a renewal of interest in further development here I became concerned. I am especially concerned about maintaining water quantity and quality in the face of oil and gas development. I feel that water is a resource we take for granted and often fail to protect. As we face dryer conditions and more and more threats of pollution we must take a stand to protect that which is necessary for life itself."
Becky Mitchell grew up along the Yellowstone River in Livingston, Montanan and has a great love for the landscape and quality of life in Montana. Becky was attracted to Northern Plains Resource Council through concerns for clean air, water, and beautiful landscape. A member of Northern Plains for 5 years, Becky is a past chair of Northern Plains’ Billings affiliate, Yellowstone Valley Citizens Council, and is the current Treasurer of Northern Plains Resource Council. Becky works as a social worker at St. John’s Lutheran Ministries.
Links to some excellent resources that look at the intersection of water and oil and gas development
Gone for Good: Fracking & Water Loss in the West: http://www.worc.org/publication/gone-for-good-fracking-and-water-loss-in-the-west/
Watered Down: http://www.worc.org/publication/watered-down/
This new report is on solid waste disposal of oil and gas. Water is not it's main focus, but it is a really interesting side to all of this: http://www.worc.org/publication/no-time-to-waste/
Oil & Gas Reform Factsheet: https://www.northernplains.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/OilGasComparisonFactsheet_2014-08-27.pdf
Your Water Your Rights Factsheet: https://www.northernplains.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Your-Water-Your-Rights-factsheet-2012-5-11.pdf
Hydraulic Fracturing, The Right to Know factsheet: https://www.northernplains.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Fracking_2011_Factsheet.pdf
Department of Energy Study, Water-Energy Nexus: Challenges & Opportunities: http://www.energy.gov/downloads/water-energy-nexus-challenges-and-opportunities
EPA Study on Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing: http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-03/documents/summary_of_the_technical_roundtable_on_epas_study_of_the_potential_impacts_of_hydraulic_fracturing_on_
drinking_water_resources_december_9_2013.pdf
Gone for Good: Fracking & Water Loss in the West: http://www.worc.org/publication/gone-for-good-fracking-and-water-loss-in-the-west/
Watered Down: http://www.worc.org/publication/watered-down/
This new report is on solid waste disposal of oil and gas. Water is not it's main focus, but it is a really interesting side to all of this: http://www.worc.org/publication/no-time-to-waste/
Oil & Gas Reform Factsheet: https://www.northernplains.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/OilGasComparisonFactsheet_2014-08-27.pdf
Your Water Your Rights Factsheet: https://www.northernplains.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Your-Water-Your-Rights-factsheet-2012-5-11.pdf
Hydraulic Fracturing, The Right to Know factsheet: https://www.northernplains.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Fracking_2011_Factsheet.pdf
Department of Energy Study, Water-Energy Nexus: Challenges & Opportunities: http://www.energy.gov/downloads/water-energy-nexus-challenges-and-opportunities
EPA Study on Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing: http://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-03/documents/summary_of_the_technical_roundtable_on_epas_study_of_the_potential_impacts_of_hydraulic_fracturing_on_
drinking_water_resources_december_9_2013.pdf
NORTHERN PLAINS RESOURCE COUNCIL
Northern Plains Resource Council is a grassroots conservation and family agriculture group that organizes Montana citizens to protect our water quality, family farms and ranches, and unique quality of life. Northern Plains protects Montana’s greatest assets: the quality of our natural resources, the character and viability of family-based agriculture, and the ability of citizens to shape the public policies that affect our land, our water, and our lives so that we may pass them on, unimpaired, to future generations.
Northern Plains members work to ensure the long term health of Montana by putting community interests above oil and gas profits and empowering communities to guide development. Members work at the state policy and local level to implement laws and permitting practices that ensure responsible development that protects our water and communities from the potential negative effects of oil and gas development.