Villages of Woodland Springs Homeowners Association

Gas Well Education

Jul 20, 2006

As part of its gas well education efforts the City of Fort Worth will begin holding monthly public meetings the last Thursday of every month at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1000 Throckmorton, St. The first meeting will take place July 27. The meetings will include a video presentation of the gas well drilling process and give Fort Worth citizens an opportunity to get answers to any questions or concerns they may have regarding this topic.

Listed property owners as well as residential tenants at least 1,000 feet from a potential gas well site will receive a notice in the mail including the contact information for the operator seeking to drill near their area and information on the monthly public meetings.

?“We encourage Fort Worth residents with any questions about gas drilling in their vicinity to attend these public meetings to learn more about the process,?” said Fort Worth Gas Well Inspector David Lunsford. ?“The public meetings will provide an excellent opportunity for residents to get to know this city?’s gas inspectors and the role they play in ensuring the safe operation of gas wells within our city limits.?”

The Fort Worth City Council recently adopted a revised gas drilling ordinance that includes additional requirements for gas wells within 600 feet from an existing protected use structure such as a home, school, church, hospital, public building and park.

Council first adopted a gas drilling ordinance in December 2001 in response to requests from private companies for drilling within Fort Worth city limits.

At the time the original ordinance was adopted, most permits were issued for gas wells drilled on privately owned property located in sparsely inhabited areas in northern Tarrant, Denton and Wise counties. Since 2001, drilling has moved farther south, west and east into more populated areas of the city.

As a result, council appointed a Gas Drilling Task Force last fall to examine the ordinance and how drilling impacts neighborhoods. The task force conducted a series of public meetings before making its final recommendations to council in May.

In addition to the required 600-foot setback - which can be closer with council?’s pre-approval or property owner waivers - the revised gas drilling ordinance requires:

?• A 200-foot setback from existing or new construction of protected uses.

?• Operators are required to measure ambient noise levels before drilling and then install controls that prevent noise from rising above these levels by more than five decibels during the day and three decibels at night.

?• Closed-loop mud systems, which eliminate open mud pits, must be used on wells that are closest to homes.

?• Fencing and landscaping improvements that provide security and blend with surrounding uses.

The purpose of the changes is to further protect surface property rights while providing for the orderly exploration, development and production of gas in and under the city.

The city?’s revised gas drilling ordinance, which affects both private natural gas drilling and the city?’s gas lease program, is available online at www.fortworthgov.org.

For more information on the gas drilling in Fort Worth, call 817-392-2851 or visit http://www.fortworthgov.org/engineering/gas%5Fdrilling .