Mad Minute: More questions from Bob Ray Sanders

Bob Ray Sanders has more questions about drilling in neighborhoods. And this time, he's committed them to video, in this Star-Telegram Mad Minute.

Click here to read Star-Telegram opinion columns and editorials on urban gas drilling.

Click here to read Bob Ray's other columns.

-- Scott Nishimura

Comments

[TXsharon]

NO! You sure didn't ask enough questions but at least you're asking now.

[Lina McClintock]

Thank you for voicing your concerns about the Barnett Shale mania. I am equally concerned. However,if you communicate this concern to Arlington city officials or money-happy homeowners, you are regarded as another Chicken Little, making a mountain out of a molehill. UTA, unfortunately my neighbor, has prostrated itself before gas well drillers and belittled those who are worried about the process. The gas drilling companies have used their deep pockets to sell the public on "Mail Money", and no one who questions them has the finances to raise an objection. The Texas Railroad Commission is a farce as a protector of the residents affected by this. Only someone like you, with access to a newspaper column, can be a credible critic.
Thanks again for trying to slow down the stampede for the "big money", which is only big for the corporate players, not for individual homeowners. To paraphrase the Jerry Reid song, "She got the gold mine, and I got the shaft" - the gas drillers got the gold mine, the city dwellers got the shaft. And that's a fact.
Lina McClintock, Arlington

[Gary Walker]

The Barnett Shale drilling is one of the best things that has ever happened to this area, maybe the best. What industry comes to town and spreads the benefit over so many and in such a large way? The impact will dwarf the Dallas Cowboy stadium benefits. Reasonably regulate, yes, but don't kill the golden goose.

[T PHILLIPS]

ALL THESE PRO NATURAL GAS AND ALL THE GOOD ITS DOING NEEDS TO COME OUT TO MY HOUSE AND PITCH A TENT IN THE BACK, YOU WON'T GET A NIGHTS SLEEP BECAUSE OF THE BIGGEST NATURAL GAS COMPRESSOR STATION APPEARED,NOW RUNNING 24 HOURS A DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK, NO SOUND BARRIERS,BEEN COMING FOR 2 MONTHS NOW!! RUNNING WIDE OPEN AT NIGHT,NOT 1 OR 2 PUMPS, BUT 12 LARGE PUMPS, SOUNDS LIKE A TRAIN IN MY BACK YARD, A RUMBLE IN THE HOUSE , THE DRILLING RIG THAT WAS ALMOST IN THE SAME PLACE WAS NOTHING COMPARED TO THIS MAMOTH OF A COMPRESSOR STATION, ALSO NEED TO RIDE DOWN FM 917 BETWEEN GODLEY AND JOSHUA, THIS ROAD IS IN THE WORST SHAPE OF ANY ROAD THAT I GO ON.

[Involuntary Annexed by FW]

I would like to know if the Fort Worth City Council has offered any waiver or variance from their existing ordinance of 600' from a residence when the proposed gas well is less than 300' from said residence? Why was the ordinance originally changed to 600' for property inside the city of Fort Worth? If their have been any variances granted for drilling operaitons when a house was less than 300' from the drill bit then please let me know. What is the long term effects to our domestic water wells and how long before the injected grey water ends up in our water supplies for those of us with domestic water wells?

[BH]

TX*S, Looks like this blog has another bug, named Kyle. After
a couple of months of Infestation Control and clean-up, a new
virus has appeared. This one appears to be a single cell brain
virus with a Five word vocabulary. Quote "are you for real" and/or
"you are full of crap".

[BH]

T phillips: were do you live? I would like to see that compressor.

You could invite the new task force over for a Hot Dog brunch in
your backyard on a Saturday. If they won't come, Invite a channel
5 News van out. Have a rep from your homeowners Ins.on site.
We would really like to hear comments from any Insurance agency.
They have been so silent its scary. I would have a professional
Inspection done on your house, especially the foundation,for your
files, incase the vibration's make your home shift over the years.
I would call a Real Estate broker out for a free market Value
evaluation of your home now, verses what is was before, to show
the loss of value of your investment/equity in your home and for
the appraisal value on your home at tax time. You will need all
this documented now, to protest your tax appraisal, and lower your
taxes. If your tap water starts to stink or taste funny, you can
send a sample of it to a state agency for a free analysis, to see
if any gas or other toxic waste from the compressor station is
getting in your water supply. I think it might be the County
Extension agency who will do this. I did it once when I lived in the
country and it was free. But any Lab will do, even Texas A & M's.
The sooner you start documenting everything and building your file
the more credibility you will have in a Court of Law, on your total
loss/damage. I predict over the next 5 to 10 years alot of homeowners will be in court. Especially ones like you. When people's
standards of a decent quality of life in their number one investment, Your Home, and your health, both mental and physical
falls into a rapid decline, because of the aggravation, the constant
noise and the air you breathe,and water you drink is a gross
violation of your civil rights as an American citizen. Did you and
your neighboors sign a waiver to allow this compressor station
so close to your homes? I suspect not, but somebody did, and they
will be accountable in the future to all of you. Bless You All.

My mother was a Phillips, maybe were related.

[greg]

Love the insightful comments, Kyle. Keep them coming!

[blake riggs]

I am getting messed around by Conoco Philips. They land locked my mineral rights in such a way that I can not be leased by other gas companies and I can never have a well drilled on my land. I have talked to everyone I know. All they tell me is that it is legal and there is nothing I can do. I will not give up. Some one needs to listen to us little people.....

[Jess]

Is there laws about how far away they have to be to drill and if so what are they?