This story by Julie Dermansky, Denton, Texas Citizens Group Fights For Fracking Ban, and the accompanying video (below) illustrates why Denton residents are seeking a ban on fracking.
After nearly 5 years of trying to get their concerns heard and get a reasonable ordinance, they feel they have no choice but to seek a ban on fracking in the city. And after nearly 5 years of talking to the mayor and city council, it’s obvious by the mayor’s quote below that they were not listening.
Mayor Burroughs, who recently bought a two million dollar condo in Dallas where there is no drilling due to a 1,500 foot setback requirement, hasn’t visited the Meadows at Hickory Creek subdivision.
“I have heard the sounds and trust our citizens. I also live not far from a couple of well sites. The only solace is that it is a very temporary problem and once drilled and fracked, no substantive value impact continues,” Burroughs said.
He lives in Dallas. He has not visited the neighborhood where fracking just happened. He thinks fracking is only a temporary problem.
Let’s recap only the most recent history in Denton:
- Trucker killed at Denton County well site
- Hazmat in Denton neighborhood after gas well leak
- Home video of fracking accident and another home video.
- Emissions at established well sites.
- More video of established well sites in Denton.
- Apogee Stadium well during flowback and release after the well is established.
- There will always be workovers.
- There will always be trucks.
- There will always be fugitive emissions.
It’s never over and it, of course, is not substantive you Mayor Mark Burroughs because he lives in Dallas.
Tonight we got quite a few signatures on the fracking ban petition at the Denton Mardi Gras. Tomorrow we will be in the Vintage neighborhood.
Come.
Sign.
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Burroughs believes drilling and fracking is a temporary problem because that’s what Ed Ireland and Darren Groth have told him. He won’t visit that neighborhood because then he’ll know. And as Calvin Tillman says, ‘Once you know, you can’t not know”.
Good job.
Texas is the new New York.
I am incredibly pleased to see other communities and states taking these important political steps.
And, it really is about the politics.
Stan Scobie, Senior Fellow, PSE Healthy Energy, Binghamton, NY