The Cracker Factory Coming Soon!

Will the cracker come to the Buckeye State?

If Pennsylvania's governor gets his way, it will.

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett 



What is cracking?  Simply speaking cracking breaks down molecules of carbon and hydrogen into smaller molecular chains.  This process can be used to make gasoline and plastic.  For a more in depth look at cracking, click here.

Working at a cracker factory is not the ideal dream job.  Until our civilization breaks its addiction to dirty fossil fuels, however, this is what we get. 

Arlington, TX: A Damaged Land

 June 2009

Plans proposed to the City of Arlington, TX in June 2009
Corner of South Hwy. 360 and Sublett Road

Fast forward three years to the present, June 2012...

Nine acres of undeveloped commercial property surround the Fulson Drill Site.

In a recent conversation with an Arlington land developer, he told us that Chesapeake misrepresented what they were going to do.  When all the wells got drilled, they were going to be able to develop that piece of property.  Chesapeake's five acres would be reduced down to 1.3, and the Temporary Frac Pond would be gone.  It is three years later and Chesapeake still has not reduced the pad site to 1.3 acres and the surrounding land still lies barren.   Chesapeake was a Big Gorilla.  The City was dreaming about the $$gas revenues$$. 

Unfortunately, they created an Achilles' heel for potential land development for this Arlington location.  Even if someone wanted to develop this once, prime piece of commercial real estate, it is now covered in gas gathering pipelines, and you can't put a structure on top of gas pipelines. 

Gas Gathering Line Marker
We could have had this.

Finally, here is a letter that Chesapeake sent out to the Fish Creek neighbors in July of 2009:

"Chesapeake has recently learned of opposition to the Fulson drillsite from a development company whose property is adjacent to the property owned by Chesapeake.  The development company feels that our drillsite hinders future development potential for their property."

During our conversation with this same Arlington land developer, he agreed with us 2000% [his words] that they [Chesapeake] damaged any future land development for this cornerstone of Arlington, Texas which at one point in time held such potential as an important gateway to our vibrant city.

Broken Promises: Fulson Drill Site

Notice that when the June 23, 2009 public hearing for the Fulson Gas Drill Site begins no one bothers to correct Mayor Cluck's blunder announcing Glory Park as the item being discussed.   No one is paying attention - not even the City Manager.   

Although this proposed drill site on South Highway 360 near Sublett Road is in Robert Rivera's district, notice how he doesn't even ask a single question about turning this prime piece of real estate into heavy industrial use.

Sheri Capehart, however asks good questions.  She asks Chesapeake's Public Affairs Coordinator, Sarah Griffis, how long it will be until residents receive their royalty checks.  Ms. Griffis  indicated  it would be six months to one year.  It's a good thing it's not written in stone!   That Fulson well began production in February 2011 and we still have not received royalty money.   Word has it that some lessors are just now beginning to receive division orders.    Here is a copy of  e-mail correspondence from May 10, 2012 between a Fish Creek Neighbor and Chesapeake:

Nature of Inquiry: Regarding the Fulson Well 1H Lease No. 259101 which has begun producing as of 2/16/11, has this gas been sold at market?... Why have the mineral owners not been paid royalties yet?

Hi:

Thank you for contacting Chesapeake Energy. The title opinions for the Fulson unit are still not yet complete. The division orders were due to be distributed at the end of June 2011. After this date, due to the delay, we will pay interest (2% over prime) on the revenue which will be passed onto the royalty owners on their second royalty check...

Marissa Gibbs

Notice how Chesapeake is not paying the penalty on the first check.  Why not?? 

In addition, this site plan was to include evergreen trees along the east perimeter of the pad site to hide all the horrible things that would be going on in there.  They all died.

We are still waiting for those seven or eight prime tracts of land to be developed as Cliff Mycoskie mentions in his speech, but let's get real.  That's just not going to happen.  Who in their right mind would want to develop land on the back side of a gas pad?  Plus, there are gas gathering lines snaking all over the place.  More about that topic later...

Sarah Griffis states that Chesapeake has an aggressive drilling plan for that site with the first six wells being drilled within the first 15 months.  Thank God that did not happen because it was sheer torture living through three.  Many nearby residents were complaining of health issues during the drilling of the first wells, and we have good reason to believe their symptoms were directly related to Chesapeake's industrial activity taking place in such close proximity to our homes and schools.  In addition to the health effects, we heard that two neighbors downwind from that pad site died in February 2011.   

With one sweeping vote on the night of June 23, 2009 our Arlington City Council turned our community into an industrial zone.  This decision has already had serious repercussions, and  folks, it's not going to get better anytime soon.  If we only knew then what we know now...     

Citizens' Concerns Fall Upon Deaf Ears

Feedback is pouring in from the June 5th Arlington, TX City Council meeting.   We would like to share one citizen's observations:

"Yes. I found out where the meeting was held at City Hall and was enlightened, as well as disappointed, by the conversation and lack of support our elected officials have for our safety. I was only able to sit through the first Chesapeake request for "Rocking Horse Drill Site", because I had to work. I wish I could have stayed for the remaining 3 resolutions for Chesapeake.

I also provided 4 cards opposing their requests until Chesapeake owns up to their existing responsibilities for Arlington. It was only when the rep from Chesapeake could not confirm that he could provide an alternate source of water to the site that affected other investor's property (not the citizens) that deferred their decision to move forward with their action.

I'd like to propose a class-action lawsuit against Chesapeake. The current practice is not working.

 It was nice to see the Arlington citizens come out and support the community against Chesapeake and hope to see you and others at the next meeting."

(e-mail from concerned southeast Arlington resident)

Here is the link from that meeting.   Scroll ahead 44 minutes to the Rocking Horse hearing.  Then scroll ahead to about one hour and 13 minutes where Mayor Cluck tells Charles Davis of Chesapeake, "You go ahead and drill 80 wells if you want to."  Wow, did anybody hear the citizens?

http://arlingtontx.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=1074

Gas Gathering Pipelines Regulated??

If we heard correctly at the Rocking Horse meeting last night (bad acoustics), Charles Davis of Chesapeake informed a room full of people that gas pipelines are regulated.  You can believe that rhetoric, or you can believe what this government report says:

Click  HERE.

Here is the Railroad Commission GIS map for southeast Arlington.  Pipelines are in green:

There's something else going on with Rocking Horse...more about that later.

The Golden Boy Rides Again

Image courtesy of Greater London Authority

May 31 is graduation day and the last day of school for AISD students.   While
neighbors celebrate this special milestone, Chesapeake will host a meeting in our community to discuss their plans for the Rocking Horse Drill Site located at South Collins and Caplin Dr.  This meeting will be held from 7-8 p.m. at the NY Ave Church of Christ, 5371 NY Ave, Arlington, TX. 

Although we expressed our conflict with this meeting date due to graduations, Chesapeake decided to move forward on additional permits for the Rocking Horse Drill Site.  A total of about a dozen wells are planned for this location.

To date, one well is quietly producing according to the postcard they mailed out to residents.  We'd like to know what they are doing over there, because the production of our minerals has been anything but quiet.

From the appearance of the plat we wonder how they will accomplish their goal since many residents did not sign a lease.   This is the plat, and the shaded areas represent unleased properties:

A Chesapeake representative indicated that they have all the necessary leases.   However, the Texas Statewide Spacing Rule states that a well may not be drilled closer than 330 feet to any unleased property.  Most likely Chesapeake will be filing a Rule 37 spacing exception with the Texas Railroad Commission.  With that in mind, check your mail carefully as you may not recognize this unofficial looking correspondence.  If you do not wish to sign, you will need to protest by filling out the form and returning it promptly.  We have individuals in the community who are able to assist with the Rule 37 process. 

If Chesapeake treated us like human beings rather than a tract number on a plat, perhaps we might like them better.  We are nothing but a mere inconvenience on top of their gas reservoir.  God help us please.