Oklahoma residents have shown The Frontier and ProPublica many ways that oil and gas pollution harms their health and property. One family shared photos of a thick, black fluid with an oily sheen that flooded their home outside of Tulsa, which they had to abandon. A couple 30 miles from Oklahoma City sent us photos of corrosion on their faucet and clumps of wet salt from their ice maker that dissolved into an oily, foul-smelling substance. We’ve heard stories of crops and cattle dying because of toxic saltwater and drinking water sources polluted by carcinogens. And we’ve seen videos of contaminated water shooting out of the ground.
We know this issue affects many people in Oklahoma, as several studies estimate that about half the state’s residents live within a mile of oil and gas operations.
Now, we need more Oklahomans’ help to show the various ways oil and gas pollution seeps into your life. We’re interested in any documentation you can share, such as photos, videos, text messages or voice memos.
In our past work, we’ve found that community members’ photos, videos and audio documenting a problem are the most effective way to bring attention to an issue, which sometimes leads to changes that improve people’s conditions.
If you’d like to share your own, you can use the brief form below or email reporter Nick Bowlin at [email protected]. If you’d prefer to reach out on Signal, you can reach Nick at NickBowlin.24.
Please don’t edit, Photoshop or add filters to your photos or videos. For journalism, we need visuals to be authentic and untouched in any way.
We take your privacy seriously. We are gathering this media for the purposes of our reporting and will contact you if we wish to publish any part.
