City Council To Consider Variance on Greenwood High-Impact Drilling Site
by Steve-OBelow is from an email sent to West and Clear:
On Labor Day 2007, hundreds of people gathered under the Trinity Trees old growth canopy to speak out in favor of preserving one of the most pleasant, wondrously pristine and most frequently visited sites on Fort Worth’s landmark hike and bike trail.
Although the entire grove of trees was not saved, the efforts of concerned citizens resulted in convincing Chesapeake to reduce and relocate its pad site so that more than an acre of trees were saved.
Now, one year later, in another part of town, on another section of the Trail system, a similar scenario is playing out. This time, the Greenwood Grove is threatened with a high impact gas well. The new website www.protectthetrinitytrails.com includes photos and a map of the Greenwood site.
The Trinity Trails should be included in the definition of protected uses in the City of Fort Worth Gas Drilling Ordinance. But it is not. The City Council needs to make this change to the ordinance.
The Star-Telegram reports that a City Council vote for the drilling permit for the Greenwood site is scheduled for Tuesday, September 2.
The public spoke out a year ago and made a difference. It’s time to do it again.
Come to City Hall Tuesday at 7 p.m. to show your support for protecting the Greenwood Grove and the Trinity Trail system. A gas drilling moratorium rally is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at City Hall prior to the start of the City Council meeting.
7 Comments, Comments or Pings
Will
So is Channel 8 the only media outlet to cover the story about Chesapeake maybe driving 50 trucks a day THRU the actual Greenwood cemetery in order to access the drilling sites? This is supposed to be a final RESTing place, not a driveway for drilling trucks.
I didn’t see much word of this in the Star Telegram. And here I thought putting a pipeline under the front yard of an elderly lady rude…..
Sep 3rd, 2008
John MacFarlane
Anyone who attended the council meeting last night, was the variance granted for this site?
Sep 3rd, 2008
Steve-O
It was continued. I’ll write something a little later.
Sep 3rd, 2008
Ann
What Steve said is right… continued. There was an article in the Star Telegram today.
http://www.star-telegram.com/metro_news/story/879634.html
oops just realized Steve posted the link above.
Sep 3rd, 2008
Greg
Sent to Greenwood today:
To Greenwood, http://www.locallyowned.org/Home.htm:
I am writing in disbelief that you would even consider allowing a gas well in the Greenwood Cemetery. “Locally owned”? Words cannot describe the revulsion to think about visiting the grave of a loved one with an industrial operation right there. Or attending the funeral of a friend with trucks and pumps and fumes…
From your web site, describing your not-for-profit status: “Unlike thousands of funeral homes and cemeteries owned by large publicly held corporations, our primary interest is the families we serve, not stockholders.” The more I think about it the more I question why anyone would turn to you in a time of need. If you would soil your own nest like this, and by extension ruin a jewel of Fort Worth, could your words of comfort be more than disgusting lies?
Please prove me wrong. Maybe you did not know what you were getting into. Maybe you did not know your gas could be developed from existing sites. I don’t know what you signed without understanding the impacts. But you could be in good company: “full disclosure” is a foreign concept in the gas business.
But please, do not agree to any compromise that allows the gas well to proceed. Be stubborn, do not negotiate. Please stop the well on your property.
What is your credibility worth?
Sep 4th, 2008
Ben
Did you ever stop & think that PERHAPS the families do benefit? Maybe this enables them to maintain their current rates instead of having to raise them? How could anyone that isn’t a customer know? Is it POSSIBLE school districts that have gas leases are able to keep their rates lower because of this? Again, how would you know unless you are on the board? I personally know of a private school where I live that has 2 wells on their property, and it has definitely enabled them to maintain the status quo/keep rates lower than they would have been without gas drilling. Anyone that doesn’t believe this/does not see the tangible benefits all around them thinks the helicopters overhead are following them.
Sep 4th, 2008
Greg
Thanks, Ben, for repeating the obvious. Nobody denies there are benefits. But the ceaseless cheerleading is wearing a bit thin. As are the insults. I happen to KNOW the helicopters are following me.
Some of us have been trying to learn about the cost side of the equation. We are attempting to tally costs so an honest balance sheet can be created. The fear of that activity is obvious as the industry continues to pump millions into its propaganda machine. Or am I just paranoid since I cannot prove the helicopters are part of that effort?
Sep 4th, 2008
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