Tandy Hills Action Alert
by Steve SmithThis just in from Don Young:
“Once again, our park is under attack from gas drillers. Exactly one year ago 80 of you wrote letters of protest when Chesapeake Energy bought 50+ acres on the east boundary of Tandy Hills Nature Area. Thankfully, no drilling has been done there. Now, they have leased 30 acres adjacent to the west side of the preserve. Your letters and emails are needed again to help stop this affront to our vanishing prairie lands.
“Your influence is urgently requested to help persuade Chesapeake Energy to not drill adjacent to Tandy Hills Natural Area (THNA). They recently filed for a permit to drill the so-called, Thomas Well, on a 30-acre private tract, due west of THNA.
“This forgotten corner of the city is one of the last surviving pieces of original Fort Worth Prairie in the city. It is not an ordinary vacant lot, but exactly like THNA, with an incredibly diverse ecosystem containing over 500 native plant species, home to a variety of wildlife and breathtaking views.
“The proposed gas well is less than 600′ from a neighborhood that would ordinarily require waivers, but Chesapeake has, apparently, used a loophole in the ordinance to buy the affected property. Legal or not, this action violates the spirit of the ordinance. It will seriously impact the West Meadowbrook neighborhood as their equipment and trucks would likely access the well from historic, Scott Avenue. They also want to run an odorless, gas pipeline through the neighborhood and, who knows, what else.
“The city gas well inspector told me that the well and access road would require the removal of a lot of trees. I have walked the property and observed the same thing. Many old growth trees are in the way of the necessary road and pad site.
“More importantly, the integrity of THNA is at stake as Chesapeake continues to nibble around the edges of our park and neighborhood. It is clear that they are marching eastward towards Scenery (Broadcast) Hill bringing more devastation. Just one year ago, over 80 master naturalists, biologists and esteemed members of the community wrote letters to Chesapeake expressing serious concerns about their purchase of this equally at-risk site.
“Even if gas drilling were safe and environmentally benign, it is not the appropriate use for such exceedingly rare land. The surface is far and away more important and more valuable to the public than any short-term profits derived from what lies 8,000 feet below.
“I understand that my request may seem overwhelming, but I also know we can prevent drilling on this site if enough of the right people take charge and find a solution. I urgently implore you to do everything possible to help Friends of Tandy Hills Natural Area save this property from destruction and get in the park system where it can be protected.”
If you want to help, here’s what you can do:
19 Comments, Comments or Pings
bbob
I wonder how much it costs Don Young to fill up his Conastoga Wagon? Because if he’s driving an automobile, or using electricity to cool his home, or plugging in his computer to write a blog … if he’s doing anything that uses any produced energy, then Don Young defines hypocrisy.
It really is that plain and simple. I’ll get back to Don in a moment, but first, let’s take a look at the general hypocrisy of America’s energy policy.
In 1995, President Bill Clinton vetoed legislation to drill for oil in the Alaskan Arctic. If that bill had been signed, 1 million barrels of American oil – 27 million gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel – would be on the market today.
With all that extra American oil available, we would not be suffering from skyrocketing fuel and grocery prices today. Supply and demand. The greater the supply, the cheaper the cost.
But Clinton vetoed the bill and all that Alaskan oil remains untouched … right beneath the surface of our own feet. And out of our current 100 United States Senators, 72 of them have voted to keep that estimated 10.4 billion barrels of oil off the market.
“Not here,” those 72 Senators said with their votes. “Not here.”
But that hasn’t stopped the politicians from hijacking a microphone to complain about skyrocketing prices at the pump.
It’s time to pull the plug on the hypocrites. Because, as columnist George Will astutely pointed out a few weeks ago, “Don’t drill here seems to be our national energy policy.”
That sounds familiar, kind of like the loud minority of so-called “activists” who oppose development of the Barnett Shale. “Don’t drill here,” they say, even though the technologies of natural gas drilling and production are incredibly safe and unobtrusive. Even as our nation is in desperate need of affordable, clean, efficient energy … and it rests right beneath our Texas dirt, waiting to be produced. Even though this vast resource provides not just a tremendous boost to the Fort Worth economy, but a viable means of meeting America’s energy needs with less reliance on foreign oil.
And our reliance on foreign oil is a critical and growing problem. It’s not going away and it’s only going to get worse.
T. Boone Pickens recently pointed out to Congress that America is spending $700 billion per year for foreign oil. That’s more than the Iraq war is costing us! And with new demand for oil from nations like China and India, the price tag is only going to go up … until we do something about it, something for ourselves.
And there is a way out of this mess. In his testimony, Pickens told Congress that if we converted America’s transportation fuel from gasoline to natural gas, we’d cut our dependence on foreign cabals by 38 percent. Get a calculator – 38 percent of $700 billion – we’d save $266 billion every year, just like that.
But there’s more good news. According to the prestigious scientists at the Colorado School of Mines, we have a 120-year supply of natural gas right here in North America, right under our feet. And natural gas is, by far, the cleanest burning fossil fuel known to man. It’s affordable, it’s clean, and it’s available right here at home.
Right here, at home in Fort Worth … right under our own feet.
But, “Not Here,” says Don Young. “Not Here,” say a small minority of “Not Anywhere Naysayers.”
But they still drive their cars. They still complain about the price of food that was shipped to their local grocer in gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles. They still turn on the air conditioner or the stove at home.
And they still plug in their computers to declare “Not Here” in their blogs and emails.
Which brings us back to Don Young … and hypocrisy.
Don, if you were Amish, I’d understand. Because as New York Times reporter Peter Applebome wrote, the Amish “… live what they espouse.” They use no produced energy.
So, Don, if I see you around town in a horse-drawn wagon, I’ll wave and offer a note of respect.
But as long as you keep plugging in that computer to destroy America’s efforts to lessen our dependence on foreign oil … well, you’re just another “Not Here Hypocrite” that, frankly, isn’t worth the energy it takes to listen to you.
Jul 9th, 2008
sigh
I have a better idea, let’s get off of dino fuels completely. It can be done. Let’s stop shitting in our own kitchens.
Jul 9th, 2008
peteg
bbob– for your consideration– here’s the text of a letter the CEOs of the 12 major US airlines sent out to all of their customers (ie, you and I) today. Pretty interesting stuff (link):
Jul 9th, 2008
Lon
bbob-
I think you are missing the point. I am not speaking for Don but I don’t have a problem with drilling, just drilling next to my house or in this case next to my park.
There is such a thing as urban planning or in this case a lack of urban planning.
The argument of “if I use it I should allow it in my back yard” is crap. There is a reason we don’t build factories in residential neigborhoods. There is a reason we have signs that direct large trucks off of our residential streets. I am all for wearing leather shoes and eating a steak but I don’t want a slaughter house or feed lot next door to me. It is called ZONING.
Jul 10th, 2008
dan
Well, I am in the business as well, but do have one thing to say. Chesapeake has such an interest in this town now, I am starting to get worried they are going to set up roadblocks and start tattooing the company logo and name to our asses.
With their acquisition of Tracy Rowlett, what is next? Yes, we need energy (hydorcarbons), but can they do a little planning? Hell, they leased Rivercrest Country Club and I hear they have no access into their proposed drill site. Plus running a pipeline straight down peoples yards and taking out 100 year old oak trees is no way to win hearts and minds.
Don’t call me a tree hugger. I am a landman, but I can like trees as well.
Jul 10th, 2008
John Peter Smith
Pete G:
Interesting theory presented there, I had not heard much of that, thanks for posting.
Of course, while the airlines are calling for tighter restrictions on the oil market I don’t see them calling for tighter restrictions on bankruptcy laws. The biggest problem with the industry is oversupply caused by too-lenient laws that let poorly-run, marginal airlines file for bankruptcy, only to keep flying. Why am I not surprised that an industry born in government regulation would see the answer to their profitability problems in more regulations. I won’t hold my breath waiting for the open letter that says, “You know, some airlines are run by idiots and deserve to fail.”
Lon:
Since you don’t have a problem with drilling, where specifically would you relocate that drill site to?
Jul 10th, 2008
sirius_girl
oh Bob!!!
“Don’t drill here,” they say, even though the technologies of natural gas drilling and production are incredibly safe and unobtrusive.
INCREDIBLY??? UNOBTRUSIVE??? WHERE DO YOU LIVE? NO WHERE NEAR A PAD SITE I WOULD GUESS. Time will tell if your conjecture is reality. I would venture a bet that you’ll turn tail when the real drilling in neighborhoods begins. Technologies of natural gas drilling have improved, but they aren’t perfected. Failures in rural drill sites have caused devastating damage, but thankfully were not near homes or schools. How incredibly safe will you feel when a pad site or a pipeline is next to and/or underneath your granddaughter’s home? and how smug will you be when a tanker truck plows into a carpool of kids on their way to school?!
Even as our nation is in desperate need of affordable, clean, efficient energy … and it rests right beneath our Texas dirt, waiting to be produced.
WHAT WE’RE IN DESPERATE NEED OF IS DIALOGUE ABOUT ENERGY CONSERVATION AND ALTERNATIVE ENERGIES! There’s no doubt that if we continue to fuel the beast we’re in for real trouble. Of course I still drive - but slowly in my little car with good (but not great) mileage. I’ve exchanged my appliances, including my gas heater and HVAC system to the most efficient that I can find. I’m no martyr, but I do the best I can - I don’t need a pat on the back, thanks. But I don’t need a slam either.
Neither does Don or any of us who speak out. Frankly, I’m stunned by all the big trucks + that are still whizzing by me at 80 MPH. What are we thinking?!!! Let’s be the example for conservation not gas gluttony.
Even though this vast resource provides not just a tremendous boost to the Fort Worth economy, but a viable means of meeting America’s energy needs with less reliance on foreign oil.
VAST RESOURCE - THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN. What will the costs be. What will the City of Fort Worth pay in Air Quality fines and fees when we can’t even come close to pending federal standards for air quality? What will the CFW pay in road reconstruction? What will we taxpayers be liable for when lawsuits between the energy companies and the city begin? What will it cost each of us in home values, long term health issues and peace of mind?
I agree - let’s not be dependent of foreign resources! Let’s use our own natural resources. But let the first of those resources by brain power, not ignorance fed by shiny ad campaigns. Don’t let the glitz fool you into thinking that the discussion is “to drill or not to drill”. Think BIG BBOB - and think outside of yourself. There’s always more than an either/or discussion.
If you think that Don Young is your enemy, you’re fooling yourself. Narrow-mindedness and short term gain is your downfall.
You’d be a better man to know Don Young.
I suggest you give it a go.
Jul 10th, 2008
Greg
Poor planning by the gas companies? Shame on them! But I think they’ll get by.
However…
Our city has done no planning to speak of, certainly no comprehensive planning concerning gas. Shame on us for allowing an industrial operation to be started up, spanning our city and ignoring zoning and other aspects of residential quality of life.
Considering the gas is going nowhere and we are learning more every day about issues involved in this experiment, it is clearly time for City Council to establish a moratorium on granting drilling permits and pipeline easements under streets.
The State of New Mexico is just now coming off a 6 month moratorium used to study a variety of issues and impacts of oil and gas production in a sensitive area (Galisteo Basin). They will probably extend it another 6 months to determine how to mitigate impacts and risks discovered. When production occurs it will be in accord with intelligent regulation designed to protect the citizens and their values.
The City of Fort Worth sits on 6% of the Barnette Shale. Surely we can delay production of that small amount until we integrate gas production into the overall plans we have for Fort Worth.
Jul 11th, 2008
Lon
JPS
It would be relocated no where! It should not happen! We should not drill any where close to our parks or residential neighborhoods.
It’s a lack of leadership at city hall that has us in this situation where we have to fight about every drill site. The city needs a comprehensive plan to deal with this industry and all we have is a mayor and a city council that gives them a free pass.
Sewer treatment facilities, trash dumps, and even drill sites have a place. We should have a regional urban plan that deals with it.
It is pretty simple, people want a nice place to live and play.
Jul 11th, 2008
John Peter Smith
Lon:
That’s so typical of what I read on this site. Someone will say, “I’m not necessarily opposed to drilling but…” The thing is, they will never offer up a solution, they just whine about the problem. You don’t want drilling next to your house or next to “your” park. Okay, fine. How far away will you allow drilling? If you really don’t have a problem with drilling, what’s the magical number at which drilling is okay. You don’t like the 600 ft. rule; suggest an alternative; 6,000 feet? 6 miles?
These things happen in regular cycles on this site. Someone will post about a new gas well and everyone cries and complains, “that site is too special to drill at, the city needs tougher laws, wells should be further apart…” But I never see any specifics. That’s why the handful of citizens opposed to drilling are ignored at city hall. They have yet to offer any viable alternatives.
Jul 13th, 2008
Don Young
JPS-
Since its founding in ‘05, FWCanDo has been very specific about setbacks and viable alternatives. Our founding manifesto demanded 3,000 feet. I still have my t-shirt to prove it or you can check the website:
http://www.fwcando.org
That’s a compromise. Many intelligent people demanded a mile or more, but we were trying to be reasonable, unlike the City of Fort Worth and its kangaroo Gas Drilling Task Farce.
As far as Lon’s comments, I don’t see the problem. Life is full of grey areas. To recognize them as such is a sign of intelligence.
My bottom line on urban gas drilling is this: No More Compromise. The drillers have taken enough. Now it’s their turn to find a way to drill that protects people, parks and property or let the NG stay put.
For starters, let’s demand that they play by the same ground rules as everyone else. It’s beyond sin that they have lobbied their way out of obeying laws regarding, zoning regulations, tree ordinances, subsurface trespass, Clean Air Act, Clean Drinking Water Act, et al.
No wonder they are so arrogant. They don’t know what it’s like to live in the real world. Kind of like an out of control dog that needs obedience training. Since you are so concerned, why not lend a hand?
Jul 13th, 2008
Ben
Again, 3,000 feet is in effect inverse condemnation by the City of FW. As Suzette/Sirius Girl alludes to; what is the potential cost of lawsuits with the current regulations? A 3,000 foot exemption woulddefinitely increase the potential for similar lawsuits. Is this really what a majority of the people want? How can someone be against condemnation by eminent domain but for the taking of someone’s mineral rights?
Suzette (as I’ve asked you before), how would you like it if your neighbors fought to get the zoning changed on your business? I’m sure some people would say that a kennel is a nuisance and should be out in the country somewhere!
Jul 13th, 2008
Don Young
Ben-
Let the lawsuits begin. NG production in urban neighborhoods is a faulty concept driven by greed. I think the majority would rather have a livable city than an industrial war zone threaded with thousands of new, unodorized gas pipelines, noisy, intrusive compressor stations, not to mention gas wells and unending fracking operations. Once urban drilling hits the courts or better yet be addressed by the legislature or feds, I’ll bet money that safety, environmental and quality of life issues will trump mineral rights, easy. We have been brainwashed by an arrogant, out of touch industry and bought-off elected officials into believing that we have no choice but to submit to their demands. I say, bullshit.
Surface matters more than subsurface for those “living on the land”. That is the very definition of urban dwellers. Your argument comparing condemnation via eminent domain with the right to access subsurface mineral rights is a red herring. To echo Lon from earlier: There is a reason we have zoning laws. You can’t open a titty bar next to an elementary school. You can’t play soccer in the Kimbell Art Museum, and you should not be able to access mineral rights in a neighborhood or next to a park. I don’t care if you own the land or not.
Sorry, Ben. I’m not buying. No more compromise. It’s time we put the gas drilling fanatics in straitjackets if they don’t behave. This is my goddam city, too, and I’ll go to jail before I let them take it without a fight.
And don’t even think of calling me a radical while gas drillers fly American flags from their smoky rigs and then poison my friends’ water wells, pollute their air and destroy the natural environment in the name of energy independence. That is not the America that I come from.
Jul 13th, 2008
Ben
Surface may matter more than subsurface to you, but not to the State of Texas. This is a law that has served our state well for many years and benefits all citizens equally. This is about the needs of the many outweighing the needs of a few. I don’t think the majority of the people of the state agree with you, nor do I think the majority of the citizens of FW want to be dragged into lawsuits over “zoning” that is legal today & illegal tomorrow. Your examples are currently illegal & should remain illegal. The gas companies are working within the current laws. You are trying to change the rules after they have invested millions assuming the current rules would apply. Again, how would you feel if your existing business was zoned out of the city?
Jul 14th, 2008
Steve-O
Here are my viable alternatives:
>> No variances on setback requirements. No drilling within 600 feet of protected use. Period. Ideally, expand setback requirement to 1,000 feet, as they are doing in some of suburbs.
>> Recycle 100 percent of produced water. No exported this waste to neighboring counties. If it is produced in FW, it should be recycled in FW.
>> Institute a grievance process for pipeline/eminent domain issues. Stop bullying ordinary citizens with legal mumbo-jumbo and threats of lawsuits.
>> Guarantee a minimum of price set at 200 percent of fair market value on condemned land.
>> No drilling in city parks, and expand definition of city parks to include Trinity Trail. Stop letting the TRWD shuck and jive and avoid public oversight. They take our tax dollars, we need to have a say in what is going on.
>> Mayor Moncrief should disclose ANY business dealings with companies actively involved in Barnett Shale drilling. If he got a royalty check for a dime from Joe’s Drilling and Joe’s drilling is doing work in FW, he should disclose it. Mikey says there is no conflict. If that’s true, let the public decide.
>> How about a gas drilling task force not weighted in favor of the industry?
>> How about a citizen’s gas drilling safety oversight board?
>> How about more city gas drilling inspectors? 70 percent inspection rate isn’t getting it done.
There’s lots more. But this is all I have time for.
Jul 14th, 2008
Lon
JPS- I don’t think there has been a shortage of possible solutions. See Steve-O’s comments above. Just a shortage of solutions the gas industry is willing to listen to.
Jul 14th, 2008
Ben
Steve-O - If 100% of people want to waive the setback requirements, they should be allowed to do so. If I build a subdivision next to an airport, and people choose to buy a home there, they should be allowed to be stupid. If someone wants to sign their rights away for a short term aggravation they should be allowed. Maybe Chesapeake can put them up in a hotel for a month or send them on a nice vacation!
ED ideas shouldn’t single out one particular industry. Should apply to stadium building & electric lines also!
Do any city leases allow drilling in parks? It seems to me if the money is being set aside for parks it will be a tremendous help during a time when other departments are hurting for money.
Jul 14th, 2008
Suzette
Ben - to answer your question, “How would you like it if your neighbors fought to get the zoning changed on your business? ” Believe it or not, I have had something very close to that happen over here in East Ft. Worth in dealing with some of the leaders of the West Meadowbrook Neighborhood Association and my councilperson Kathleen Hicks. I didn’t like it. However, I continued to reiterate the facts, remained honest, worthy of trust and was able to get the case approved with alot of help from others. In regards to the gas drilling, I don’t think the facts are in the favor of the Industrial business of drilling. I mean it’s a fact that those trucks & equipment weigh more than a ton or two and our neighborhood streets are only built to hold so much. Our air-conditioning systems and lungs can only handle so much dust and debris from the trucks barrelling down the street, etc. However, I understand what you are saying, if the CFW Ordinance says that drilling doesn’t have to be in any certain type of zoning, then yhea…..that sets the stage for a lawsuit on both sides. Shame on our City and State Governments for not doing their jobs of looking out for the best interest of the people and shame on us voters for not being more involved in what our elected officials are doing ,day in and day out — we’ve been asleep and they’ve been partying with our money. Serves us right for sleeping on the job. Maybe we will pay closer attention now that our water is poisoned and the drillers are invading our homes.
Jul 15th, 2008
John Peter Smith
Steve-O:
Thanks for the thoughtful answers. Believe it or not most of them I can agree with in principle. Don’t know if I’m becoming a latte liberal or you’re getting more reasonable
While I think the granting of variances should be extremely rare, I would never say never. Look at all the city’s boards and commissions. Almost all of them exist to grant variances and waivers when it is determined that a literal application of the law is not reasonable. Surely there are a handful of cases where honest, thoughtful citizens would say, “yeah, a variance is warranted.”
Look at what the gas companies are paying in bonuses these days and compare that to the taxable land values of those same properties as listed by Tarrant Appraisal District. The gas under the land is more valuable than the land itself. If the city enacts setbacks that are too stringent and never grants variances, the gas companies will simply buy all the land and drill. It will be more economical for them to do so. Steve, do you really want to live in a city where Chesapeake owns a 1,000 rent houses?
Lon: I did see Steve’s answers. I didn’t see any answers from you. Chesapeake says the well is 1500 feet from “your” park. Is that far enough for you?
Jul 17th, 2008
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