BOA TABLES CHESAPEAKE REQUEST AGAIN by Tammy Jones
Tuesday night was Chesapeake Energy’s second attempt to convince the Board of Adjustments to grant special exceptions and permits to drill two more wells on the Sublett Road site.
Currently there is one well and the company wants to drill up to eleven total.
The new drilling would go north and north west from the existing site, which would go directly under adjacent neighborhoods and cemetery.
Tiesa Leggett, a Chesapeake representative stated that residents leases were about to expire and they wanted to drill in March. She added that would make royalties come in about June.
There was discussion of an emergency management plan and the implementation there of; along with how to best notify Kennedale residents should an emergency occur at the site.
Board member Cheryl Abbott voiced complaints to Chesapeake about the unsightly sound wall that’s been on the location for over a year.
Resident Hollis Matthews addressed the Board concerned with reports by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of toxic chemicals found in the air in North Texas near some well sites and asked board members to table the issue; stating that city council should take measure to ensure residents safety.
Leggett stated there was no reason to table the request and that the City of Kennedale should use scientific data and not op-editorials to make decisions.
As discussions went on both sides were clearly aggravated.
Patrick Vader said, “I don’t care if leases have to be renewed, that’s just the cost of doing business. I want to be certain of our residents safety.”
Leggett said Chesapeake monitors their wells regularly and there is no cause for concern.
The Chesapeake rep further stated, “The TCEQ is the industry standard, and more monitoring conflicts with TCEQ requirements.”
Leggett who appeared somewhat rattled, went on to read part of a letter from their corporate attorneys saying the City has no authority to monitor the air quality.
This only served to irritate Board members.
Chesapeake’s request was tabled until next month.
On January 13th city staff met with representatives of the four gas operators working in Kennedale. Also in attendance was Patrick Vader of the Board of Adjustments and Frank Fernandez of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
The P&Z Commission has completed it’s review of Kennedale’s oil and gas ordinance and will have a joint work session with the City Council, next week on the 11th at the February Council Meeting. At that meeting, the Council will give comments to the P&Z Commission about the suggested changes to the ordinance. After any Council suggested changes are made to the ordinance, the ordinance will move to the public hearing stage.
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