A month ago, we got a letter from Cherokee Horn asking to lease our mineral rights. I immediately had concerns but I went to the informational meeting willing to listen.
I went to the meeting with a few questions and I left with a ton of questions. I went with a few concerns and I left scared. You get the idea. Since I didn't leave the meeting feeling like I received honest answers to my questions, I decided to do my own research. (Many of the same links that have been shared here.) I have talked to people that have lived through this very thing in Ft. Worth. I have to tell you I have gone from being scared to furious. We are not ready for all the issues that come with drilling in an urban setting. Period. The gas has been there forever. What's the hurry? Can't we at least wait to make a decision until more is known about urban drilling? Can't we wait until the industry develops methods suitable for our neighborhoods?
If we keep this up, it is not a matter of IF a disaster will happen, but WHEN it will happen. There is still so much information that needs to be shared that I sometimes don't know where to begin. The countless safety concerns, the farce called the Texas Railroad Commission, the numerous pipeline issues, the potential impact on our water supply, the potential impact to our roads.
People talk about "getting a better deal". For me, there is no deal until these issues are solved. How does a $500.00 bonus vs. a $2500.00 bonus negate safety issues? How does 20% royalty vs. 25% royalty make it OK for your front yard to be taken for a gas pipeline? Don't get me wrong, I can use extra cash as much as the next person. But is $500.00 and maybe $40.00 a month really going to change your life? I am going to go out on a limb and say it won't change your life as much as a horrible catastrophe or the constant threat of a horrible catastrophe. Now that's life changing stuff.
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5 comments:
Exactly! All of this talk about "getting a better deal" is simply ridiculous. Why would we throw away our beautiful neighborhoods, our peace and quiet and possibly even our lives for the price of a few cups of coffee each month?
Wake up Flower Mound!! Gas drilling in our residential areas is a threat to everything that you love about this place.
For me, the key is that they gas isn't going anywhere. We need to at least be smart about this and figure out what it means. We should be in control here, not the gas industry.
I do think people have a right to develop their mineral rights. However, I think they also have a responsibility to make decisions that are not going to put homes, schools, parks, lakes, roads at risk. There is no question that the Northshore site will do just that.
When you factor in safety, banks not lending, real estate agents not being able to sell, insurance companies not covering homes (or jacking rates, remember "black mold", don't think the insurance industry isn't just salavating at this opportunity), this just becomes a no-brainer for me.
Thank you for setting up this blog! I urge everyone to inform themselves for the sake of this place we all call home. And please...become INVOLVED!
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