Council passes gas well permit moratorium
At a special council meeting Thursday evening, the Grand Prairie City Council passed a 180 day moratorium on acceptance of gas well permits.
City Manager Tom Hart favored the moratorium fearing an influx of gas well applications trying to get a “grandfather clause” before the City Council could act on proposed changes for a more restrictive gas well ordinance.
With more than 30 changes to the current ordinance that was passed in 2006, Mayor Charles England said, “We’ve learned a lot in the last four years.”
Areas of proposed ordinance change include:
- Noise control
- Dust control
- Frac fluids disclosure
- Security
- Public notification
- Seismic testing
- Freshwater wells impact
- Road damage
- Air emission/flaring
- Frac ponds
- Fencing/landscaping
Changes to the current ordinance are set to go before the City Council on December 14 for approval.
