Poetry at the Post: Mercury in Retrograde or Loss of Innocence #2—The Trans Pecos Pipeline

Updated June 11, 2015

Mercury in Retrograde
by SHERYL LUNA

The day ended badly with a broken ankle,
a jinxed printer, and a dead car. The dry yellow grass
against the sunset saved me…

Here’s my latest roundup of the news on the Trans-Pecos Pipeline. This is not an exhaustive list—but a start.

I have found little from the Mexico side of the border and what I have is mainly a summary of what’s going on in Brewster/Presidio County. If you find other news reports—especially national or international, please feel free to add them to this list. (Updated, June 11, 2015)

Whitewashing the Trans-Pecos Pipeline, Alpine Avalanche

Cano Backtracks on “Done Deal” Comment, Pipeline Opposition Begins Fundraising, Marfa Public Radio

Proposed Trans-Pecos Pipeline to Benefit Air Quality, KMIDTV

JEFF DAVIS COMMISSIONERS COURT DEFLATES GAS PIPELINE RESOLUTION, The Big Bend Gazette

An unlikely alliance: Ranchers and green activists fight Texas pipeline, Al Jazeera America 

Texanos protestan contra gasoducto Waha-Presidio, Radiza Juarez 

Texanos inician campaña contra gasoducto por daño ambiental

The Pipeline That Texans Are Freaking Out Over (Nope, Not Keystone), Mother Jones 

Commissioners ask critical questions about pipeline, Big Bend Now

Presidio County Commissioners Receive Update on Trans-Pecos Pipeline

Border Pipelines Face Opposition On Both Sides Of Rio Grande, Fronteras

Marfa and West Texans Fight to Keep Out Pipelines, Glasstire

Pipeline protesters gather in Alpine, Alpine Avalanche

The Uphill Battle for Eminent Domain Opponents in Texas, Marfa Public Radio

TCEQ Shuts Down Pumpco Inc. Work Site for Trans-Pecos Pipeline in Alpine

TCEQ: Operations At Alpine Pipeline Site “Not Shutdown Nor Granted Approval’, Marfa ‘Public Radio

Board Member of Brewster County Groundwater District Arrested on Trespassing Charge, Marfa Public Radio

Work at Alpine Staging Ground for Trans-Pecos Pipeline Can Continue Amid TCEQ Investigation, Marfa Public Radio

BEARD CHARGED WITH FELONY ASSAULT OF DEPUTY AT PUMPCO, INC. SITE, the Big Bend Gazette

Pipeline Shipments Could Head South On Old West Texas Railroad, Marfa Public Radio

Charges mount for Beard in pipe yard incident, Big Bend Now

Beard charged with assault, trespass, Alpine Avalanche 

Opponent of Trans-Pecos Pipeline to Mexico Vows to Fight, NGI’s Daily Price Index

Officials Seek Federal Regulation on the Entire Trans-Pecos Pipeline, KWES News 9 

Alpine Resolution Opposing The Trans-Pecos Pipeline Dies Before A Vote, Marfa Public Radio

Congressman sheds little light on pipeline, Big Bend Now

Showdown in Trans Pecos: Texas Ranchers Stand Up to Billionaires’ Export Pipeline, DESMOG

Presidio, mostly, embraces pipeline project, Big Bend Now

Pipeline firm denied water well permit, Big Bend Now

ALERT!: Nuclear waste facility proposed near Kent, Big Ben Now

Not about Gas but Oil:

Jane Fonda takes on ‘big oil’ in Vancouver: ‘Arrest me, I don’t care’, CBC

I lost language in this want, each poem
dust, Spanish fluttered

as music across the desert, even weeds
tumbled unloved. The police sirens seared
the coming night, dogs howled helplessly
sad.

Poet Sheryl Luna was born and raised in El Paso, Texas.

Mercury will be retrograde May 19-June 11, 2015. Uh oh!

About a week or two before Mercury retrogrades, finish any tasks or projects at hand. You can’t stop your life, but plan ahead, have back-up plans, and be prepared for angrier people and miscommunication. (From “The Old Farmer’s Almanac”)