Whose values is Denton’s gas well administrator promoting?

On October 3, 2013, there was a “gas drilling open house” for the Vintage neighborhood where EagleRidge is drilling and fracking way too close to homes. Mark Grawe, EagleRidge Energy’s executive vice president and Darren Groth, Denton Gas Well Administrator, were there to answer questions.

One resident asked Groth if there have been any legal actions taken against, any fines, accidents reported or any safety related concerns against EagleRidge. According to someone who attended the meeting, this is how Groth replied:

EagleRidge has an excellent safety record and goes above and beyond.

Let me recap the growing list of EagleRidge transgressions for you:

1. An EagleRidge Operating worker was indicted in June 2012 on a felony charge of illegally dumping. City employees visiting the company’s well site in the 3100 block of Airport Road found a pump forcing contaminated water into a tributary of Hickory Creek. LINK
2. EagleRidge was operating wells in Denton without a permit. LINK
3. EagleRidge had a blowout in Denton that got “sanitized.” LINK  But it didn’t stay “sanitized.” LINK
4. EagleRidge is drilling in a Denton neighborhood less than 200+/- feet from homes.
5. EagleRidge is drilling in Mansfield and polluting air, violating sound ordinances and dividing neighbors. LINK
6. More than once, EagleRidge did not get permits from the city to drill.
7. Three EagleRidge sites failed city inspection in 2012. LINK
8. EagleRidge is delinquent on paying their inspection fees and owes Denton $50,150. LINK

Can someone explain to me why Darren Groth still has a job–one that is funded by taxpayers? One can only assume that the city is pleased with Groth’s job performance and that his words and actions reflect the City of Denton’s values.

We must remember that Denton imported Groth from Arlington where he approved wells 500′ from a daycare center.

Denton’s gas-well administrator Darren Groth was imported from the city of Arlington, Texas, where he held the same job and approved 21 gas wells within 300 feet of a day care center. Groth now heads Denton’s gas well drilling task force and is tasked with the job of recommending “best practice” methods to regulate the extraction of natural gas. Source

Now, Denton’s Vintage residents are faced with having to move out within 24 hours or endure exposure to hazardous air pollutants as EagleRidge fracks a well way too close to their homes. According to the Special Use Permit (page 2), issued in 2003, 24 hours is the required notice.

Denton pulls suit, weighs options
By Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe
Published: 26 October 2013 10:22 PM

Sandy Mattox said she and her neighbors are watching the hydraulic fracturing by Apogee closely, knowing that the trucks and equipment will be moving toward them in a few weeks now that the lawsuit has been dropped.

People with health problems, pregnant women, families with small children and anyone else who wants to, should be able to make arrangements to leave their home and stay elsewhere while the fracking is going on, Mattox said. She didn’t think one day’s notice would be enough to make that work.

“We need at least a week’s notice,” Mattox said. “This affects people’s lives and health. They need enough notice to make plans.”

Photo credit: Calvin Tillman, ShaleTest

Oh duh! Update from the comments: 

We are holding a neighborhood meeting again with people who are really concernd for the community and not their pay checks. It is at 4201 Vintage Denton Tx on Tuesday 10/29/2013 between 6:30 to 8:30.

I will be there with some surprise, never before seen videos. Calvin Tillman, I think, will also be there.