Motion Denied

Following two earthquakes and a boatload of violations EnerVest, LLC appeared before the Arlington Planning and Zoning Commission to request an amendment to a Special Use Permit to establish the drill zone at the Perr Drill Site.  Their plan was to drill at least three more gas  wells on an existing site in the heart of Arlington on the heavily traveled Cooper Street between the UTA campus and the widely visited Parks Shopping Mall.  

The motion was DENIED.  

Both the Chairman and Vice Chairman voted in opposition to EnerVest's request.

Here's the video of the September 17, 2015 public hearing for the Perr Drill Site:

P&Z Regular Session - Sep 17th, 2014

 

Here are some violations that FracDallas dug up for us:

EnerVest 1st Quarter Inspection Report 2014

Page 12 ~ Perr Site, 2825 S. Cooper St. ~ Failed Lightning Arrestor System  

Page 18 ~ Swapo II Site, 5408 US 287 ~ Failed Lightning Arrestor System

Compliance Notice - Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Arkansas DEQ cited four significant violations in this report

Pennsylvania DEP cited failure to control or dispose of waste to prevent contamination of Commonwealth Waters

Pennsylvania DEP cited inadequate exploration and production plans in violation of law

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission cited a well being shut-in without a mechanical integrity test being performed, as required by state law 

Pennsylvania DEP listing of operators that failed to report production levels  in violation of state law

Of the companies operating injection wells, Houghton Investments, LLC, had the most violations with a total of 85 followed by EnerVest Operating, "the largest Oil & Gas operator in Ohio," with 59.

Mercury Contamination in Louisiana

  

To be continued...

EnerVest, LLC Requests to Frack in the Arlington Quake Zone

Arlington, Texas is a rockin' and a rollin' this week, and it's not because of the great concerts at the Levitt Pavilion.

There were two earthquakes in Arlington, Texas this week ~ the first one in the downtown area on September 7th with a 2.4 magnitude.  The second one ~ a 2.5 magnitude ~ occurred on September 12th.  The epicenter is in close proximity to the EnerVest, LLC drill site (formerly owned by Carrizo Oil & Gas.)  They plan to drill a bunch of shale gas wells in the quake zone.

Dumb Idea.

EnerVest has scheduled a public meeting this Monday, September 15th to discuss future plans for the Perr Drill Site located at 2825 South Cooper Street, Arlington, TX:

PublicMeeting Notice Perr Gas Drilling Site

After the public meeting EnerVest, LLC gets to present their case before the Planning & Zoning Commission on Wednesday, September 17th to request an amendment to a Special Use Permit (SUP) to establish a drill zone to drill more gas wells - in an earthquake zone. 

Perr Drill Site Public Hearings Notice

Click HERE for the Perr Site Plan

We're pretty sure ALL future plans for fracking in Arlington are over ~ or at least they should be.  Our next mayoral candidate tells us that gas drilling discussion will happen soon, but as one English Composition instructor taught our class ~ "show, don't tell."  As human-induced seismicity continues to shake the ground in Arlington and other towns, we have mountains to move in our State.

It Took an Earthquake *Update*

Citizens have been trying to shake up Arlington City Hall for a long time.  

  It took an earthquake.

Thank you, Westchester Gasette for this RRCTX GIS Map with labels.

On Sunday, September 7, 2014  just before 4 am a 2.4 magnitude frackquake rocked downtown Arlington, TX.

On June 5, 2012 one of southeast Arlington's long-time community leaders spoke out at City Hall about these tremors she had been feeling since gas drilling activity began in her community.
Click Here for that link.  

On January 4, 2011 many citizens came to city hall to speak out in opposition to Chesapeake receiving a gas well permit for the Truman Site located within one-half mile of Cowboys Stadium.  When one citizen expressed legitimate concerns about fracking and protecting the integrity of a stadium with a capacity to hold over 100,000 people, Mayor Cluck replied with a chuckle, "You think it's gonna fall?"  Click Here and scroll to around 54 minutes to witness this exchange for yourself.

Ironic that a frackquake struck downtown.  

Here's what another Arlington resident said on Twitter after the earthquake:

@CityOfArlington 24 years in my central ARL. home, & first time I was near thrown from my bed from an earthquake. Time to take action, plz.
— Matt (@Centerlinegp) September 8, 2014

Now, the energy industry blames injection wells ~ not fracking ~ on the recent quake swarms in Azle, TX and other places.  The problem with this argument is that Arlington's gas drilling ordinance prohibits injection wells.  We only allow fracking, and we allow LOTS of it.  We wonder what explanation they'll come up with next. 

If you feel a tremor or an earthquake, report it immediately to USGS under "Did you feel it?"  If you felt it in Arlington, be sure to call it in to Arlington's Tremor Hotline or e-mail the Fish Creek Neighbor.

 USGS link

 NBCDFW news story

 WFAA news story

Earthquake in Arlington coincides with water main break