8/3/2019 DallasGas Drilling Press Release 2-23-12-1
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For Immediate Release For MoreInformation: Thursday, February
23rd Zac Trahan(214) 599-7840
Dallas Gas Drilling Task Force on Verge ofRolling Back Buffer
Zones forNeighborhoods, Schools, and Allowing
Fracking in City Parks?
(Dallas)--- If fracking industry representatives get their way
during the final GasDrilling Task Force meeting next Tuesday,
fracking companies will be allowedto drill much closer to
neighborhoods and schools, and even inside City ofDallas parks, a
reversal of previous positions.
Whats ironic is that the President of the Dallas Parks and
Recreation, JoanWalne, may facilitate these efforts.
Walne has been voting with industry throughout the course of the
Task Forcemeetings, participating in votes this week that removed
protections alreadyagreed to for flood plain drilling. In the past,
shes had no problem with theidea of sacrificing city parks to
drilling rigs. Shes expected to be a key votenext Tuesday.
As it turns out, putting Joan Walne in charge of protecting
Dallas public parksfrom the gas industry on this Task Force was
like putting John Dillinger incharge of protecting the citys bank
account, said Downwinders at Risk
Director Jim Schermbeck.
Besides allowing rigs and giant compressors in parks, the Task
Force is alsoexpected to be asked by industry representatives to
revisit the currentrecommendation requiring a 1000 foot setback
from all homes, schools,churches and hospitals. They want it rolled
back to between 500 and 700 feet,similar to how drilling is handled
in Fort Worth.
After already agreeing to inadequate 1000-foot buffer zones
weeks ago for theseprotected uses, industry now wants to go back
and have another try at drilling rightin our back yards, warned Zac
Trahan of the Texas Campaign for the Environment.They want to put a
well pad as close as 500 feet from a school, hospital or home
and as close as 300 feet from an office building, retail store
or restaurant. A well padcould mean as many as 24 wells, a battery
of storage tanks, and a large compressorthat generates thousands of
tons of air pollution a year. Thats unacceptable to us,and we
think, most Dallas residents.
Walne, as well as Texas Business for Clean Air Director Margaret
Keliher, andDallas attorney John McCall are expected to be key
votes on the setbacksissue. Keliher had led the effort to disregard
the current ordinance and allowdrilling in the Trinity River
floodplain, while McCall is supporting rigs as close as300 feet to
commercial pieces of property like office building, restaurant
orother place of business.
Both Schermbeck and Trahan urged Dallas residents to e-mail the
Task Force
