Chesapeake Planning Eighth Avenue End Run?
by Steve SmithAs Kevin Buchanan pointed out on another comment thread, a representative from one of the neighborhood associations around Chesapeake Energy’s proposed high-impact drilling site at Eighth Avenue confirmed that the Oklahoma City-based company is planning an end-run around the city’s gas drilling ordinance to get the site on-line. According to the source, Chesapeake plans to sue the City of Fort Worth and circumvent the city’s gas drilling ordinance in an attempt to enforce the state’s more lax requirements on drill site distance if Fairmount, Ryan Place, Berkeley and Mistletoe Heights continue to oppose the site. A City Council Hearing on a variance for this site is schedule on Tuesday, October 7.
What do you think would happen if Chesapeake tries to go around the City’s drilling ordinance?
Tags: Barnett Shale, Chesapeake Energy, eighth avenue
5 Comments, Comments or Pings
John MacFarlane
There’s no doubt that if they file a lawsuit, the city will back down. I don’t see how our city can afford to fight CHK on this one well. It’s really too bad. Maybe when Wendy gets elected to the Senate, she can work on strengthening the state’s lax drilling regulations.
However, my neighbors and I will be at the October 7 meeting with bells and whistles, and red shirts. A sea of red will make an impression on the council members. I just hope that impression turns into a no vote on the variance.
Oct 1st, 2008
David AKA Rico
It is funny that CHK is now willing to sue over a site they almost walked away from a couple of months ago. Before FWWR threatened to sue them, they were planning to abandon plans for the site because the good PR was worth more than the 2 wells that are to be drilled there.
@John
Red shirts, it is! I’ll inform my neighbors, as well.
Oct 1st, 2008
Greg
I think the fight is over a bigger issue: who runs this town? It’s not just this one well, it’s every well plopped smack in the middle of otherwise nice areas. TCU is next month. Greenwood comes back in January. And there will be plenty of others unless this council will take its first stand.
I don’t think CHK sues. There’s too much of the other shale areas watching us for them to want to look like a bad citizen.
Oct 1st, 2008
Suzette Watkins
Threats threats and more threats. Sounds like Washington DC to me. The Mayor and the current City Council members will love this because it gives them an easy way out. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a planned scare tactic by “top officials.” All the more reason why the leaders of this great City should have had a good, solid Master Plan in place and a much stronger drilling ordinance way back when talk of the first wells were coming down the pipe. (no pun intended)
Oct 1st, 2008
Greg
I think you intended that pun!
Oct 1st, 2008
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