In tomorrow night's O&G Board of Appeals meeting (6:30pm at Town Hall) a variance request will be voted on for a compressor facility to be located within 1,000 feet of The Rockpointe Church on Cross Timbers. Here is the link to the agenda:
http://www.flower-mound.com/agenda/oil/oil_11-19-08.pdf
According to the Town's case manager for the request, this location already has two wells--Bunn #1 and #2, which were drilled several years ago, but subsequently capped. The case manager stated that the wells were being "reopened" and that the developers were now wanting to place a compression facility nearby.
He also stated that Rockpointe has sent a letter to the Board stating their support for the project. (The proposed compression facility is 858 feet from the church.) He said that the nearest homes were on Quail Run Road, but that they were more than 1,000 feet away.
Here's my thoughts. These wells were approved approximately four years ago--well before most of us were even aware of "urban gas drilling" or the Barnett Shale. That's a fact. However, now that we know about the dangers of urban gas drilling, do we really want a compressor facility this close to the residential areas of the Town? Is it safe?
Regarding the safety aspect....did you read about Sunday morning's compression facility explosion in Johnson County? (It was two miles west of Cleburne.) Here's the link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27752078/
The headline is "Flames Seen for Miles after Natural Gas Compressor Fire."
Is that a possibility that we want for Flower Mound?
Please attend the O&G Board of Appeals Meeting tomorrow night at 6:30pm and let your voice be heard.
Our Mission: To work in a legal, ethical, and civil manner to stop urban gas drilling in the highly residential areas of North Texas. We are not against all gas drilling, but rather that which will adversely affect the public safety, the enjoyment of our homes, and our overall quality of life. We support the need for better regulation and accountability of the Oil & Gas Industry in rural and urban areas of Texas.
The Church has signed off on it, just like the other Church and the day care signed off on the drilling site at the riverwalk. Let it be.
ReplyDeleteSo when it blows up like the one a few days ago on Sunday morning, we'll let you explain that on Judgement Day. I sure won't have to.
ReplyDeleteI know nothing about this church. Does anyone know if the church polled the congregation to find out what they thought? I would hate for many to pay for the mistakes of a few if an accident occurs. Please pro-drillers don't tell me the accidents are few and far between - it happens - and it happened this week!
ReplyDeleteThe utter lack of concern for people and safety in this town is down right scary.
ReplyDeleteI can ease your fears. The accidents are few and far between. No injuries are yet to be reported. Sit back, sip another glass of wine. the sky is not falling. Just Texas in action,as always, and as it should be.
ReplyDeleteAccording to one of the public affairs persons for Crosstex (a company which chooses NOT to drill in dense population areas), an alarm sounded before the fire, allowing the on-site worker to evacuate. For all you pro-drillers where safety is of utmost concern, he was uninjured. The fire then proceeded to burn for "approximately 2 hours", 1 person who lived about 1/2 mile away was evacuated. In other news, there is at 1 less pro-drilling person in Johnson county. FMCAUD, winning hearts and minds 1 exlosi..er, I mean 1 person at a time.
ReplyDeleteVariance denied.
ReplyDeleteAnother lawsuit coming? i hope so.
ReplyDeleteFinally, taxes being spent on something I can agree with. Getting the message yet drillers, you are not wanted here. At the very least, you are going to have to file EVERY time you want to do something. It's gonna get old.
ReplyDeleteOne of the posters brought up a good point. Did the church ask the congregation about the drilling and compressor station? I know that it is their land but they open it up to others every Sunday. This is the same situation as the Day Care Center by River Walk. Did the owner of that facility ask the parents if they want a drill site less than 700 feet from their children every day? I don't have any children in day care anymore but I would be finding a new location. I do know I would not attend Rockpointe church or any other if they allowed this type of industry nearby. I realize this is a personal decision but I bet there are many out there that would agree.
ReplyDeleteThe next issue is the Crosstex compressor explosion. Here in Flower Mound the nearest residents would be closer than 1/2 mile. In some areas of proposed drilling, we are talking 300'. The thought of this scares the #$%@ out of me.
This anti "urban" driller is very happy the variance was denied.