I've been reviewing our Gas Well Drilling Ordinance at Chapter 114 Corinth City Code. Section 114.07(B)(10) provides the latitude for the Council to add to or modify the technical regulations as the Council deems in the public interest. Whether or not the Texas Railroad Commission, or the state courts, will view the exercise of that latitude favorably remains to be seen.
Already I have received numerous requests to vote to deny the permit to drill from residents (and some non residents). Most of the requests are focusing on the emissions component of the gas recovery operation. Others are on the safety factor of having heavy construction equipment traveling the roads near our schools and paths our children take to school.
Suffice to say it is a very complicated issue. Both the energy company and the residents have rights. Ultimately, I believe that we should issue the permit if all reasonable safety precautions that we are aware of today are taken.
I have additional information at my council session web page, and also at a page dedicated to discussing the drilling permit application.
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If the Council fails to uphold the existing ordinances, drilling will most certainly place our community and the Lake Lewisville Watershed in peril. The issue is not whether XTO can drill. The issue is that by even considering allowing safety ordinances to be set aside, the Council reveals how unaware they are of what drilling can do to a community. By not securing pipeline right-of-ways in advance and assuming that they can railroad the Council into permitting them to truck wastes out, XTO has revealed what they think that they are above our ordinances. I have no doubt that the $25k per lane damages bond that they'll put up for Oakmont drive won't be enough to repair the road from 30 years of damage for just 10 wells, let alone from all the wells that they can drill. XTO could easily forfeit on the 100’s of thousands of dollars of repairs and walk off having paid just $50k rather than the actual costs which the city will, of course, bear. A careful examination of all 11 ordinances will reveal a shifting of costs from XTO to the City. Grant no variances, especially since it’s clear that the winds in the Obama administration favor tighter EPA restrictions on water and air emissions in the Industry.
ReplyDeleteWhether I like it or not council is required by law to consider a request for a permit to drill, and requests for variances in this or any ordinance. The key word is consider... From dictionary.com -> to think carefully about, esp. in order to make a decision; contemplate; reflect on
ReplyDeleteCouncil must, by law, consider each request, then make a decision. We are currently in the process of gathering all available information and considering it before making any decisions.