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Aug 7, 2008 4:35 pm US/Central
Natural Gas Drilling Sparks Fort Worth Protest
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
Worried homeowners descended on the Fort Worth City Council in protest on Thursday, angry over what they fear is uncontrolled and dangerous natural gas drilling. More than 60 percent of Fort Worth residents have seen the drilling, and not everyone likes it.
Protesters came from all over Fort Worth. Many had already complained quietly in the normal forum of the city council meetings. Usually, neighborhood associations come to meetings in small groups, showing up each week to complain about the issues.
But it has never been like this, with people yelling to get their point across.
"What do we want?"
"Moratorium!"
"When do we want it?"
"Now!"
A special, information-gathering council meeting was held near the Will Rogers Center. Protesters showed up by the dozens, waving signs and giving fiery speeches.
One protester explained loudly, "We are moving forward so fast, and taking that money in so fast, that we haven't stopped to look at the dangers."
The group of angry protesters are not worried about the natural gas information that they have already been told. Rather, they are afraid of what information they have not been told.
Protester Pati Lee explained, "They're not telling people that, when massive numbers of people in our community become sick because they're drilling in an urban area with no regard for the consequences, medical health plans are going to begin to bail and not agree to pay."
The Fort Worth City Council has called together experts to look at the issue, because they too are worried. One by one, councilmembers leaned in toward their microphones: "My question is this…," "I'm still confused…," "Can you tell…" they began.
However, the City is almost powerless in this situation. State and federal laws over pipelines trump their rules. The City can only deliver the messages of their voters to industry regulators.
Fort Worth mayor Mike Moncrief said, "Neither I nor my fellow councilmembers will sacrifice the quality, safety or well-being of our communities for the sake of gas well revenues. That is simply not acceptable."
Industry regulators and natural gas representatives spent Thursday afternoon explaining why the natural gas drilling and pipelines are safe. Homeowners will certainly be discussing this further at the next city council meeting.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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