The city of Denton is still in the process of re-writing phase 2 of it’s drilling ordinances. The city is currently encouraging public input and takes public comments at it’s planning and zoning meetings.
I heard it through the grapevine:
On 10/24/2012 one Denton resident attended the first session of the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z). At this session, Darren Groth, presented the exceedingly weak proposed revisions to phase 2 of the drilling ordinance.
The Denton citizens had one present at this session but Devon Energy brought two large white Suburbans packed full of representatives for their side.
The Devon reps proceeded to give P&Z the same song and dance routine:
- The industry is already over-regulated,
- The industry safety record is excellent,
- They deserve a 600 ft setback because of their safety record,
- They are major job creators in the area. (Who in Denton besides Darren Groth works for industry? /sarcasm),
- They walk on water,
- If stricter regulations are enacted in Denton there will be unintended consequences. (usual threat)
Here is what they didn’t mention:
- The known environmental impacts,
- The thousands of complaints of tainted water including this one,
- The severe illnesses reported around the globe in fracking areas,
- The livestock death and fish kills,
- The trillions of gallons of water forever lost to the active hydrological cycle,
- The trillions of gallons of water used to process the frack sand,
- The earthquakes,
- Subsidence,
- Property value declines,
- Fracking industries externalizing costs,
- Toxic emission from leaks, venting, flaring, allowed releases, emergencies/accidents,
- The polluter loopholes that allow industry to operate in ways that would be illegal for other industries.
The next P&Z meeting was set for 11/14/2012. Public input would again be allowed and Groth would present any ordinance revisions based on input from the city councils’ work session.
The citizens of Denton, despite their busy lives and familial duties, showed up at the 11/14/12 meeting determined not to be outnumbered by industry this time. But there was not one single representative from Devon present! The citizens were ready to Tango but their dance partners stood them up.
Suddenly it all becomes clear:
It was announced that there were no revisions to the new ordinance. Groth would not be making a presentation. Since there were no changes, public input was not necessary but, because so many showed up they were allowed to comment anyway.
Raise your hand if you think Devon is clairvoyant so they knew there was no need to show up .
Raise your hand if you think someone at the city tipped them off that it was not necessary for them to show up.
Raise your hand if you would also like to be tipped off.
To make things worse:
Don Butler is one of the consultants who is re-writing Denton’s new ordinances. Now, you might remember Mr. Don Butler because it caused such a stink when he was placed on the “unofficial” official drilling task force. The same “unofficial” official drilling task force that was stacked with industry insiders to consistently produce a 3 to 2 vote for industry favored regulation on every proposed change to Phase 2 of the drilling ordinance.
Buter works for New Tech Global whose client list includes:
- XTO,
- Range Resources,
- Chesapeake,
- Encana,
- Devon,
- EOG Resources,
- Quicksilver,
- Marathon,
- Williams,
- Halliburton.
The rumor is that Butler might be getting paid for “helping” to re-write the Denton ordinances.
Oh Denton…
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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Me thinks the Good Neighbor Non Resident Task Force Member Doctor of Frack Economics dropped a dime. Or ten.
I must give credit where credit is due. P&Z did not tolerate Devon’s antics and Some members of the city council also seems weary of industry’s same old rhetoric. This post made me laugh so loud my dogs were alarmed.
I counted the hands and no one seems to believe that Devon is clairvoyant.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfl-0yL4oCA is another video of a Colleyville water well that went bad and drilling was nearby…just thought I’d add this to the list.
I talked to her last year. They moved in and knew nothing about the drilling then their water went bad. She didn’t have any baseline testing or anything.
Realtors should be required to tell people when they move into a fracking sacrifice zone.
Reading this post reminds me of the many sheister local gubments which I have experienced over the last several years. The GasHoles know how to Buy them Off. These entities are all BBO’s. They are almost never helpful to the peasants who live on the land.
Oh and also, the realtors should be required to disclose information about local drilling/fracking areas.
Happy day, Anonymous. I hope you didn’t get gassed out.
On drilling, Denton is lame!
Paid for “helping” to re-write – ummmm yes, wouldn’t surprise me. Way to go on connecting the dots.
as a side note: As of June 29, 2006, Chief Oil & Gas LLC operates as a subsidiary of Devon Energy Corporation. Chief is one of the more active frackers in PA. http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=24767255
CEO/President of Chief oil & gas, Trevor Rees-Jones, donated $50,000 to Tom Corbettts 2010 governor campaign, and $2,000,000 (2-million) to American Crossroads.
American Crossroads is a 527 organization that in June 2010 established a spin-off 501(c) group called Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies (Crossroads GPS). This is a Super PAC that practices fundraising, with anonymous donors, for the Republican Party. It’s also run by Karl Rove.
Interesting. We need to look at the campaign finance reports of every elected official.
I was at the most recent Planning & Zoning meeting. My sister now lives in Denton. She has had respiratory problems in the past, but, as a clarinet performance grad student, depends on her lungs for her livelihood. I went to speak about my experiences with renegade gas companies in West Virginia. I did feel that at least one of the P&Z commission members was listening (they came out to the parking lot to thank us for speaking and ask what else we could do, as they were obviously frustrated with the process).
The next P&Z meeting is tonight, I hope the commission takes citizens’ concerns seriously this time (my sister wasn’t able to make the meeting).
Well, sorry to say that the P&Z passed a POS ordinance. Only one Denton resident showed up. There is something fishy going on in Denton with all the paid consultants. I plan to look into that issue.