Oil and Gas Tests the Waters in Arlington, Texas

On January 17, 2018 Arlington's Planning and Zoning Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a new drill zone at the Cornerstone Drill Site 319 feet from a church, homes, and businesses in Southeast Arlington.  The gas drilling ordinance requires a a setback of 600 feet, which is in no way protective of public health and safety. The Oil and Gas operator that wants to drill three additional wells (four, actually, but who's counting?) is TEP Barnett USA, LLC, a subsidiary of Total whose headquarters are located in France, a country that has banned fracking. They have acquired Chesapeake's assets, and are the fourth largest oil and gas company in the world. They have come to finish what Chesapeake started ~ to suck up the remaining gas from beneath our homes and communities and make our lives a living hell once again.

This article and video by the Guardian is by far one of the best:  

Fracking hell: what it's really like to live next to a shale gas well

 
In order to comply with the gas drilling ordinance, the operator is required to obtain waivers from 70% of the property owners who live within a 600 foot radius of the drill zone, which is the location from where multiple wells get drilled.  When P&Z approved this case, they only had 57% of the neighbors agree to a setback reduction.  Cornerstone Baptist Church, located approximately 340 feet from the nearest producing well had more sway on this decision, as they own three tracts on this lease, and they signed a waiver.  We are praying that the church leaders who made this decision will change their minds and rescind these waivers, as there is still time to save our city from the build out of gas wells. Back in 2009 Chesapeake had slated this site for 21 wells. 

It was surprising to learn that this controversial case passed with flying colors through P&Z despite the fact that the operator hadn't even applied for the proper permit with the Railroad Commission of Texas, the regulatory agency that oversees oil and gas. The applicant for this case, Kevin Strawser, must have spent many, many hours working with city staff on this project.  He also indicated that he met with Councilwoman Thalman and also attempted to reach out to neighbors to invite them to a town hall.  Word has it, no one from the neighborhood came to his meeting.

So, why would the City not require the operator to produce a permit prior to this zoning process?  Tougher restrictions are placed on Arlington residents requiring them to obtain a permit to install a new toilet or build a fence.  Soon a permit will be required to hold a garage sale to sell gently used baby clothes and bric-a-brac. None of these activities have the ability to endanger public health or safety, yet gas wells can and do explode. Heavy industrial activity is harmful to human health and disruptive to the overall quality of life. Why is a huge international corporation not held to the same standards as the citizens who live here? 

Arlington is not a city where its citizens are represented by elected officials, but rather, a place which has been taken captive by corporate interests. To brand itself as an American Dream City is nothing but a misnomer.

City Council was scheduled to hear this case on January 30th, but District 3 Councilwoman Roxanne Thalman was sick with the flu.  This case will be continued on February 13th. 

Total is testing the waters.  The oil and gas industry are predators, but what they don't realize is that while sharks may be at the top of the food chain, humans have been known to eat shark. 

The devil is in the details, and there is a wealth of information to be gleaned from this public hearing which begins at the 51 minute mark.  We hope you will watch! Stay tuned for more...  
    

Click here to view this P&Z meeting. 
 

Tsunami

Our neighbors once had a small above ground swimming pool.   One day its walls gave way and the pool burst.  In a matter of seconds, the force of the water pushed our six foot tall fence panels halfway into our yard.   The water reached our foundation.  That little round pool contained roughly 10,000 gallons of water, yet its weakened structure caused a mini tsunami.

Now imagine this ~ your industrial neighbor, XTO Energy, erects an olympic-sized above ground frac pool with a diameter of 160' and walls 12' tall.   These pools hold two million gallons of water!   What if those walls were to suddenly collapse due to a situation of improper installation, defects, age, seismicity, a tornado, or even gunshots, which are becoming commonplace in our city?   The consequences would be catastrophic ~ perhaps deadly for nearby residents and anyone who happens to be walking or driving by in a car. 

A zoning amendment to add six additional acres to hold one of of these giant frac pools on XTO's existing Eden Southwest  Drill Site located at 150 Eden Road, Arlington, Texas was up for discussion at Wednesday's September 18th Planning & Zoning hearing at City Hall.   Here is that video:  (Note:  This video may not play on mobile devices.  Please view on your PC or Mac.)

"This is not a destructive type of activity at all," states Walter Dueease, Regulatory Affairs Manager, XTO Energy.

The six speakers in opposition made excellent points.  We've summarized and highlighted a few of these: 

Kim Feil:  XTO said in the afternoon session that the water would not hurt ducks.  Clarification is needed as to whether this water will be treated or reclaimed.  Reminds the commissioners that their is no language in the City's gas drilling ordinance for frac pools.  Until the ordinance is updated where residents are protected, the applicant should be denied.

Jane Lynn:   "Pennsylvania's Attorney General has charged XTO with environmental crimes for spilling over 50,000 gallons of toxic wastewater.   Do we trust them to operate in the middle of our residential neighborhoods?"  In addition, XTO has recently violated the designated truck route in the Fish Creek Neighborhood.  She also wanted to know why we are talking about frac pools when we are in a drought.

Sinikka Dickerson:  Provides testimony about the time when both she and a Veteran Arlington police officer got sickened  in a residential neighborhod  that is surrounded by gas drill sites.  She said, "I can't wrap my mind around it why smart, educated people who by now ought to know better continue approving these activities in residential neighborhoods."

J.R. Nicholson:   Speaks about the gas clouds that came over his house and how his (now deceased) mother couldn't breathe.  A cluster of his neighbors have passed away in a short span of time.   He talked about his burning lungs, unexplained weight loss, breathing problems, and headaches.  Regarding our regulatory agencies he comments, "This whole thing is a bought and paid for farce."  His plead to P&Z is to take a serious look at this issue with their heart and soul because as he states, "Money isn't everything."

Paul Ulrich:  Discusses the dismal state of  the neighborhood  ~ evidence of deterioration of infrastructure of roads, sidewalks, and houses.  "We have proof of drill mud contamination from horizontal drilling."   He goes on to say that while it may seem innocuous to add a frac pool, it is not.  "This is about allowing a known bad operator to extend the range of influence in our community.  There will be more opportunities...to damage, spill, pollute."   Each time they put up the pool and take it down, it impacts the community.   He says, "We want you to stop drilling and move back out of our community and  leave us alone to pick up the pieces so we can start healing and stop the death.  If you don't, then ten years from now Arlington will be a polluted, destroyed industrial waste ghetto."  Finally, he recommends that XTO purchase flood insurance for everyone in that vicinity.

Lola Gulley:  "We need to take our neighborhood back before we're all destroyed.  If the water breaks, all our homes and the neighborhood would be gone.  Too many people are dying. Our property is being damaged from the fracking and the drilling.  I think we should stop thinking about the money and think about the residents." 

It is Powerful when community comes together.

Stay tuned to hear how that vote went down... 

Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil

We are all familiar with those three chimpanzees that hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil.  That's how another gas drilling item got approved last night at the Arlington, Texas Planning and Zoning Public Hearing.
  
First, the Assistant City Attorney, Mack Reinwand, told us we had to remove the poster board off the table in the back of the room.  It displayed photos of the Monster Frac Pond that Chesapeake placed TEN FEET from homeowners' fence lines at the Corn Valley Gas Drill Site in Grand Prairie, TX.  We do not appreciate the City's attempt to suppress this information from the public during a public hearing.  This is concerning because we have to wonder if his action may have in some way hinted of compromising our first amendment rights.   Those pictures must have been speaking louder than words.

To our dismay, the commissioners approved the zoning change for the Rocking Horse Drill Site 7-0 with 2 abstaining.  Chesapeake wants to establish the drill zone, expand the boundary of the drill site, and add a frac pond.  They should have postponed this vote because Chesapeake appears to have fallen woefully short on following proper procedure and providing important specific details - such as how far the frac pond will be from homes. 

For starters, we wonder if Chesapeake selectively invited neighbors to this town hall meeting that apparently took place on November 26th.  We really wanted an invitation to that party.  Neighborhood groups are also on that list.  Fish Creek happens to be one of them.  We never received notice of that meeting.  In the future, Chesapeake, would you kindly send us the invitation.  We will make sure to spread the word to our community.

It was quite interesting to watch how Cliff Mycoskie skirted around the commissioners' questions.  They performed a wonderful dance.   Mr. Mycoskie has a long history with Planning and Zoning issues.  He previously served as Chairman on the P & Z Commission.  Perhaps that is why he is so good at what he does week after week in our City presenting all those gas drilling items. 

However, we don't think he understands how town hall announcements are handled.  Perhaps we can help with that.  Click Here for the definition of a town hall meeting.   A town hall meeting means that the town is invited - not just a select few.  He talked in circles and looked pretty wiped out by the end of the evening.  In fact, he looked like he took a cat nap during the earlier work session.  This hearing was definitely scheduled too close to the New Years' holiday for everyone.

What we don't understand is why a City would approve such a critical zoning change for a company that has an unfavorable reputation.  There is no transparency, and they are not  providing the City or residents with specific details.   For instance, Mr. Mycoskie was simply pulling a number out of thin air when asked how close in proximity will this frac pond be placed to homes.  He clearly did not know, and because Arlington's gas drilling ordinance does not specify setback requirements for frac ponds, it is  guaranteed that the homeowners on Redwater Drive will get a frac pond VERY close to their fence lines too.  

After the meeting we grabbed a bite to eat at a neighborhood  bar and grill.  The place was bustling with activity and we finally found a small table available in the corner and sat down.  The waitress told us that this room was reserved for the Atheists, but the group welcomed us to stay.  We didn't even have to fill out a visitor's card!  The events of  the evening transitioned quite smoothly as we left one set of individuals who refused to recognize God's ways to those who do not believe in God.  Funny, the group who says there is no God seems to have a better grasp on morality than the people making crucial decisions in our City.  Hmmm...

It was good to meet new people in the community and discuss the suburban gas drilling issue.  It is affirming to know that the majority of people feel the same way we do about the issue.

Time to gear up for the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 where our elected officials will vote on whether or not Arlington homeowners will get a frac pond on the other side of their fence line.  Be prepared to speak or forever hold your peace.

For those who haven't been following the history of the Rocking Horse drill site, click:

Here,

Here

Here

and

Here

To watch that January 2nd public hearing and see some classic good ol boy style of government, click Here for that direct link.