Our Mission
To reform gas well related ordinances that are currently inadequate to protect our families and our neighborhoods, bring awareness to neighborhoods living so close to these industrial uses, and to assist others with making informed decisions on this topic.
To reform gas well related ordinances that are currently inadequate to protect our families and our neighborhoods, bring awareness to neighborhoods living so close to these industrial uses, and to assist others with making informed decisions on this topic.
OUR STORY
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This video shows emissions that were recorded by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). These emissions came from the gas well site behind the Mansfield Performing Arts Center on October 16, 2013. These emissions were blowing downwind (south) toward Ben Barber Career and Technology Academy and the Performing Arts Center, both of which are part of the Mansfield Independent School District. The emissions you see are not smoke; they are VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).
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Why Are We Here?
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of gaswells drilled in neighborhoods throughout North Texas since 2008. This activity has brought unwanted changes to our homes, including an increase in nuisance odors, traffic, noise, and air pollution. Concerns have emerged regarding safety, excess water consumption, impacts to water quality, aesthetics of neighborhoods and property values. The face of Mansfield is changing along with many other cities that overlay the Barnett Shale. Our leaders, serving this community, have made poor regulatory choices on our behalf with the will of the gas industry in mind and not in the best interest of all citizens living here. As this City continues to expand its development and encroaches upon gas wells, the lives of people living as close as 49ft away from gas well site, will be greatly impacted through safety and health concerns and property values. These sites are not going away but will evolve with industrialization as time goes on. We have to ask ourselves do we want to continue to turn a blind eye to the negative impacts that these unregulated industrial uses have brought into our growing community --or--do we choose to work together to develop a progressive community with proactive ordinances, protect citizen rights, preserve our property values and be a place for future generations to thrive.
Within the pages of this website, contains information, updates on industry, opinions, educational material and links to other sources in an attempt to increase public awareness of the hazards related to urban drilling.
There has been a dramatic increase in the number of gaswells drilled in neighborhoods throughout North Texas since 2008. This activity has brought unwanted changes to our homes, including an increase in nuisance odors, traffic, noise, and air pollution. Concerns have emerged regarding safety, excess water consumption, impacts to water quality, aesthetics of neighborhoods and property values. The face of Mansfield is changing along with many other cities that overlay the Barnett Shale. Our leaders, serving this community, have made poor regulatory choices on our behalf with the will of the gas industry in mind and not in the best interest of all citizens living here. As this City continues to expand its development and encroaches upon gas wells, the lives of people living as close as 49ft away from gas well site, will be greatly impacted through safety and health concerns and property values. These sites are not going away but will evolve with industrialization as time goes on. We have to ask ourselves do we want to continue to turn a blind eye to the negative impacts that these unregulated industrial uses have brought into our growing community --or--do we choose to work together to develop a progressive community with proactive ordinances, protect citizen rights, preserve our property values and be a place for future generations to thrive.
Within the pages of this website, contains information, updates on industry, opinions, educational material and links to other sources in an attempt to increase public awareness of the hazards related to urban drilling.
Do You Know the History of Mansfield Gaswell Ordinances?
In the beginning: The original gas well drilling and production rules were written within Planning and Zoning 7960. At that time, no gas wells were permitted within the same property of a school, hospital, daycare or protected use structure. No drilling was allowed within final platted residential lots. In 2007-8, a subcommittee was convened, comprised of planning and zoning and city council members, and tasked with creating a stand alone gas well ordinance to develop drilling and fracking within the city. Input was provided by gas well industry, an economic impact report on drilling in the Barnett Shale was reviewed, and existing gas well regulations from other cities were evaluated.
August 2008, the new ordinance ,114.0 Gas Well Drilling and Production, was adopted by City Council. The new ordinance allows gas wells within the same property as daycare facilities, schools, and protected use structures within 600 ft or 300ft if the property owner agrees. It allows drilling within final platted residential lots. There was also a recommendation, by the subcommittee, that schools, nursing homes, hospitals and law enforcement centers have a set back of 1000 ft . Unfortunately, daycares were omitted entirely and schools were struck from this protective set back. Input from gas industry was instrumental in the decision to remove protection for schools. One operator, Edge Resources Operating LLC was and we quote "of the opinion that schools shouldn't be treated differently primarily because children are very mobile." How fast does your child run?
Next Chapter: In October of 2013, MGWA began its long journey to get protective gas well ordinances in our city. With 52 gas well sites and 512 approved gas well permits, every existing neighborhood is within 1 mile of 2 gaswell sites and future developments will see these sites right out their backdoor. So the next chapter began. We lobbied, reported, sent in scientific reports, articles and affected witnesses spoke to paint the picture of need. We persevered persecution by our own city realtors, bankers and developers. Even industry traveled to our little Mansfield to squash these changes. In February of 2015, the City of Mansfield revised the gas well ordinaces. Some changes were made but the final ordinances took the face of something less than what was hoped for. In the end, (as per the original ordinances) the city caved in to the will of industry. No modifications made to current 600ft setbacks and no exemption for greater distances for schools, daycares or homes.
Today, we still do not have protective reciprocal setbacks for new development. These default to the International Fire Code of 100ft from well head. Many homes,apartments and businesses are swelling up and flowing over as close as 49ft to the well site. We are still without an evacuation plan for our schools. Not only should we ask "how fast does your child run?" But now, what will living in the "no smoking zone" of a gas well boundary impose upon the next affected Mansfield Citizen living even closer to gas wells? Who is acting on our behalf?
Letter to Our Mayor
Our city continues to grow and develop land surrounding many gas well sites. Planned developments are and will encroach upon these sites with homes being built dangerously close to them. We have no reciprocal setbacks. Instead the City allows these homes to be built 100ft away from gas well head per the International Fire Code for structures. Below is a letter that was sent to the Mayor of Mansfield, Texas. This letter explains the need for protective setbacks from protected use to gas well. To this day, our mayor and city council remain silent on this position----
Our city continues to grow and develop land surrounding many gas well sites. Planned developments are and will encroach upon these sites with homes being built dangerously close to them. We have no reciprocal setbacks. Instead the City allows these homes to be built 100ft away from gas well head per the International Fire Code for structures. Below is a letter that was sent to the Mayor of Mansfield, Texas. This letter explains the need for protective setbacks from protected use to gas well. To this day, our mayor and city council remain silent on this position----
