US Highway 285 is littered and congested from the Texas/New Mexico border all the way to Interstate Route 20--nearly 60 miles away in the community of Pecos. Commercial trucks speed up and down the highway in and out of construction zones nearly forcing passenger cars off of the roadway. There is little, if any, law enforcement presence to enforce what takes place up in Reeves County. Partly because the area is densely populated and because Texas State Police are tied up down at the US/Mexico border trying to enforce Federal immigration policy that state leaders disagree with. (Photo Credit: Matt Pierce/Route Three Productions)

Vehicles travel through blowing dust in Reeves County, Texas, USA as plastic barriers line the bottom of fences to protect dangerous chemicals from ending up in the drainage system.But even with the limited protection, damage still occurs. It is easy to see that with the irresponsibility of the oil and gas field workforce why environmental protection and safety rules and regulations would ignored. Up here in Reeves County, Texas the only thing that matters is getting the job done and making money. (Matt Pierce/Route Three Productions)

Dangerous chemicals sit in the after sun just yards off the heavily traveled roadway at most of the drilling and production locations throughout Reeves County, Texas. The dangerous are both very clear and perfectly obvious. (Matt Pierce/Route Three Productions)

So-called "Mancamps" are large scale compounds where oilfield workers and other transient support staff live while working in the oil field. They are often riddled with crime, prostitution, drugs, and general misbehavior leading to endless problems. The lack of law enforcement in the area means that they largely go un-policed. These "mancamps" are also a point of contact for sex trade workers and underage girls involved in the human sex trade. The practice goes unspoken of out of fear and retaliation from workers, and the industry. (Matt Pierce/Route Three Productions)

The region contributes heavily to the global problem of climate change. As many as seven natural gas flares can be seen burning in this one picture taken from just inside the Texas border with New Mexico. Flaring from the region, despite what officials claim is still among some of the highest in the world, according to the EPA. (Matt Pierce/Route Three Productions)

But this is only the start of the process. Most of the natural gas, waste and bi-products end up much further down the line in places like Corpus Christi, Texas down on the coast. (Kelly Pierce/Route Three Productions)

Corpus Christi, Texas used to be a thriving community on the Texas Gulf Coast. Now, it is dirty, riddled with mass poverty, and full of people who are sick and suffering from diseases that can be directly attributed to the cancer causing substances found in petroleum pollutants. Self-harm rates among females are some of the highest in the state and are considered "above average" in Corpus Christi. There is also a very high number of males in the city who admit to being alcoholics, according to healthdata.org. Much of this can likely be attributed to the economic situation of the region and the low number of good paying jobs that are available to most of the workforce. (Photo Credit: Matt Pierce/Route Three Productions)

After being processed much of the oil and natural gas is loaded onto tankers and shipped abroad. Some of the crude needed for the refining process is brought in from overseas, but the city relies heavily upon its local seaport which creates very few long-term jobs for eligible members of the community. (Matt Pierce/Route Three Productions)

The Port of Corpus christi is made up of political appointees and is for the most part not held accountable for their decisions. For years the Port of Corpus Christi has been plagued by bad management and leadership offering very few benefits directly to the community in way of jobs and economic growth. Despite what they claim, their focus has never been on protecting the environment or preventing future harm through sustainable practices. It seems that the entire objective of the Port of Corpus Christi, Texas is to support the interests of the oil and gas, and plastics industry--despite the harm that they cause. (Matt Pierce/Route Three Productions)

All-in-all there is a big shadow cast down upon the oil and gas industry and their next-of-kin, the plastics industry. While few actually benefit from the prosperity of the oil and gas industry there has been very little benefit to anybody except a few select organizations that choose not to question the Texas oil and gas industry and the corporate big shots that run things from high up in their office clad world. The dangers to people and the environment are huge--and it seems they are going up from here. Time will tell if the government or if the people will stand up to the industries that are cause problems for us all. The end result is that the oil and gas road from start to finish is a real dirty road. (Matt Pierce/Route Three Productions)