Westchester HOA holds town hall meeting on gas drilling
A near capacity crowd filled the Oaks Baptist Church Monday night for the Westchester Homeowners Association’s town hall meeting about the gas drilling in the Westchester area.
A panel of city officials, an industry representative, and gas drilling activist were available to answer questions and provide input on citizens concerns and questions. The panel included:
Gary Hogan, Vice President of the North Central Texas Communities Alliance
Sharon Wilson, Texas Oil & Gas Accountability Project
Calvin Tillman, Mayor of Dish, Texas
Cherell Blazer, Environmental Defense Fund
Ron Jensen, Grand Prairie City Councilman, District 6
Jim Cummings, Director of Grand Prairie Environmental Services
Laura Patton, Chesapeake Energy
Hosted by Westchester HOA president Rosmary Reed, dozens of residents asked the panel questions and expressed their concerns about gas drilling and wells in the area. Some of the topic discussed included:
City’s limitations on passing ordinances restricting gas drilling
Flaring
Well distance from homes
Water pond distance from homes
Chemicals used in fracturing
Water sources and amount used in fracturing
Air quality
Runoff pollution
Mineral rights
The HOA was circulating petition at the meeting calling for a moratorium on all gas drilling until the city can address deficiencies in its current ordinances.
