Our Mission
To reform gas well ordinances that are currently inadequate to protect our families and our neighborhoods, and to assist others with making informed decisions on this topic.
To reform gas well ordinances that are currently inadequate to protect our families and our neighborhoods, and to assist others with making informed decisions on this topic.
Please visit our resources and contacts page on how to contact us. We hope to hear from you!
Mansfield City is a Home Rule-
Mansfield is a "home rule city acting under
its charter adopted by electorate pursuant to Article XI, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution and Chapter 9 of the Local Government code."
What does this mean?
Municipal home rule [is a] system adopted in many states of the United States by which a city
is given the right to draft and amend its own charter and to regulate purely local matters without interference from the state legislature."
Mansfield is a "home rule city acting under
its charter adopted by electorate pursuant to Article XI, Section 5 of the Texas Constitution and Chapter 9 of the Local Government code."
What does this mean?
Municipal home rule [is a] system adopted in many states of the United States by which a city
is given the right to draft and amend its own charter and to regulate purely local matters without interference from the state legislature."
How did we get here?
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of gaswells drilled in neighborhoods throughout North Texas since 2008. This activity has brought unwanted changes to our homes, including an increase in nuisance odors, traffic, noise, and air pollution. Concerns have emerged regarding safety, excess water consumption, impacts to water quality, aesthetics of neighborhoods and property values. The face of Mansfield is changing along with many other cities that overlay the Barnett Shale. Our leaders, serving this community, have made poor regulatory choices on our behalf with the will of the gas industry in mind and not in the best interest of all citizens living here. We have to ask ourselves do we want to continue to turn a blind eye to the negative impacts that these unregulated industrial uses have brought into our growing community --or--do we choose to work together to develop a progressive community with proactive ordinances, protect citizen rights and be a place for future generations to thrive.
Within the pages of this website, contains information, updates on industry, opinions, educational material and links to other sources in an attempt to increase public awareness of the hazards related to urban drilling.
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of gaswells drilled in neighborhoods throughout North Texas since 2008. This activity has brought unwanted changes to our homes, including an increase in nuisance odors, traffic, noise, and air pollution. Concerns have emerged regarding safety, excess water consumption, impacts to water quality, aesthetics of neighborhoods and property values. The face of Mansfield is changing along with many other cities that overlay the Barnett Shale. Our leaders, serving this community, have made poor regulatory choices on our behalf with the will of the gas industry in mind and not in the best interest of all citizens living here. We have to ask ourselves do we want to continue to turn a blind eye to the negative impacts that these unregulated industrial uses have brought into our growing community --or--do we choose to work together to develop a progressive community with proactive ordinances, protect citizen rights and be a place for future generations to thrive.
Within the pages of this website, contains information, updates on industry, opinions, educational material and links to other sources in an attempt to increase public awareness of the hazards related to urban drilling.
Do You Know the History of Mansfield Gaswell Ordinances?
The original gas well drilling and production rules were written within Planning and Zoning 7960. At that time, no gas wells were permitted within the same property of a school, hospital, daycare or protected use structure. No drilling was allowed within final platted residential lots. In 2007-8, a subcommittee was convened, comprised of planning and zoning and city council members, and tasked with creating a stand alone gas well ordinance to develop drilling and fracking within the city. Input was provided by gas well industry, an economic impact report on drilling in the Barnett Shale was reviewed, and existing gas well regulations from other cities were evaluated.
August 2008, the new ordinance ,114.0 Gas Well Drilling and Production, was adopted by City Council. The new ordinance allows gas wells within the same property as daycare facilities, schools, and protected use structures within 600 ft or 300ft if the property owner agrees. It allows drilling within final platted residential lots. There was also a recommendation, by the subcommittee, that schools, nursing homes, hospitals and law enforcement centers have a set back of 1000 ft . Unfortunately, daycares were omitted entirely and schools were struck from this protective set back. Input from gas industry was instrumental in the decision to remove protection for schools. One operator, Edge Resources Operating LLC was and we quote "of the opinion that schools shouldn't be treated differently primarily because children are very mobile." How fast does your child run?
Photo Gallery
Watch this video. It is a testament that these impacts are real and happening in Mansfield, now!
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This video above shows emissions that were recorded by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). These emissions came from the gas well site behind the Mansfield Performing Arts Center on October 16, 2013. These emissions were blowing downwind (south) toward Ben Barber Career and Technology Academy and the Performing Arts Center, both of which are part of the Mansfield Independent School District. The emissions you see are not smoke; they are VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).
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