Is Anybody Listening? It STINKS!

(Thanks for keeping your Eyes on Range Scubawithdog)


The residents by this Rayzor Ranch industrial drilling site are complaining but nobody in the city seems to be keeping track.  We were given a list of individuals to contact for each of the 21 SUP conditions.  Initially, they had given the job of responding to calls to city Code Enforcement department.  Unfortunately, the complaints seemed to come after-hours when there was no one to take the call.  After an email to the Mayor, City Council and several individuals in the city planning/zoning department that quickly changed and new numbers were published in an article in the Denton Record Chronicle.  These included the fire marshal, the city attorney and the police department.  Yet, the person primarily responsible for most of conditions, the fire marshal Charles Meyers only accepts calls during business hours. 

A recent phone call to the police department revealed that the officers had not been informed of their duty to oversee Range compliance to the SUP. Furthermore, it seems they are not providing reports on the number of calls they received.  I personally called regarding noise and smell but the police had no record of the call.  So, were the SUP conditions just a pacifier for the citizens?    

The city can rectify this issue by hiring an oil/gas inspector who would take complaints  24/7 (like the city of Burleson).  Additionally they would be responsible for checking on all the wells and drilling operations in the city. Come on Denton- let’s be a leader in the Barnett Shale, force the companies who want to drill in our city to really be good neighbors. 

What You Can Do

We have got a log going so please let us know when you submit a complaint to the city (or TCEQ, EPA) by sending an email to dentoncrud@gmail.com. Please include the following information we need:

·          Your name and contact information,

·          Date of the complaint

·          Description of the complaint

·          To whom you submitted the complaint and what was their response  

What’s the Risk for Our Children?

Here is a good one. The Texas Railroad Commission wants Texas teens to know the dangers of being around oil/gas well sites so they developed a lesson plan for Middle & High School teachers. Included is an enlightening video (at the bottom of the page) which has great quotes such as this one: “These are oil tanks, definitely no place to chill. The slightest spark, even static electricity could wipe out a skate park.” (or a school!)

Here is the inspiration for the video:

       In April 2003, four students in Palestine, Texas were killed when they inadvertently set off a massive explosion of several oil storage tanks. While appearing safe, the oil stored in the tanks can give off flammable fumes. According to investigators, these fumes were ignited by a cigarette lighter. (http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/riskproject/index.php)

This is one question the video didn’t answer: If well sites are so risky, why would they opt to let them be installed next to schools? If given a choice, I would bet most parents would pick the safety/health of their children over cash. Do you know if the school which your child attends has a gas well close by? If so, post a comment.
I’ll start: Guyer High, W.S. Ryan Elementary, McNair Elementary, Selywn…

Besides a potential explosion what else is wrong with having wells beside schools? Toxic air emissions, trucks hauling lethal substances alongside buses & cars full of kids, soil/water contamination….

Here is a parent speaking out in Corinth about wells close to Hawk Elementary which is a school in Denton ISD.  This was orginially posted on the Corinth Cares blog.

What can you do? Speak up. Let the City Council and the School Board (link for the Selwyn folks) know this is unacceptable!

Ensure this issue gets addressed - Come to the April 20th City Council meeting located at:

City Hall

215 E. McKinney

Denton, TX 76201

Lets compare....

Denton's version of informing the public versus Southlake.  Or how about Burleson?  But hey, the flowers are nice.  Lets ask the city to do a better job keeping the citizens informed. 

Come to the City Council meeting on April 20th- the City Council will be reviewing changes suggested by the planning and zoning department to Denton's gas ordinance. 

We have a few suggestions of our own. Follow the  Drill Right Texas: Best Oil & Gas Development Practices and hire a technical advisor such as Wolf Eagle Environmental.

                                

They had to zoom in on the flowers in the picture above or else you would have seen this industrial drilling site across from McKenna Park.