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Jul 14, 2008 8:50 pm US/Central
Residents Concerned About Underground Gas Drilling
Complied By Staff Reports
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
A gas drilling debate has residents of a Fort Worth neighborhood taking action. Some residents are concerned they will lose their property and their lives if a gas pipeline is built as planned in their neighborhood.
The homeowners meet with Chesapeake Energy representatives about the project Monday night. The purpose was educational only, designed to have area residents learn exactly what the pipeline will look like, how it will be constructed, and answer any questions about it.
Officials called the meeting at the Sycamore Recreation Center "an open house," but tensions are running high as residents try to get more information about the Carter Avenue pipeline.
Several concerned homeowners picketed in front of the meeting, saying that Chesapeake Energy is creating a world of hurt in their neighborhood.
The energy company's subsidiary -- Texas Midstream -- wants to put a natural gas pipeline under 31 properties on Carter Avenue.
That high pressure line would distribute gas from a proposed well next to the Tandy Hills nature area.
Scott Avenue residents say they're not happy about that either.
"The biggest concern over here is gonna be the amount of truck traffic it's going to take to get that well drilled on this residential street," resident Byron Liles said.
Affected homeowners are also concerned that they will lose much of their properties to the pipeline. They are also afraid of possible explosions.
They want the pipeline to be moved along Interstate 30 instead, but the Texas Department of Transportation said 'no way'. Midstream claims the Carter Avenue route is the best option.
"It is the one that can be constructed safely and responsibly in a way that will allow all the interests to get to what we're trying to," said Justin Bond, Chesapeake Energy.
Jerry Horton said she can barley stand the new road construction in front of her east Fort Worth home, but has no regard at all for what's planned under her property.
Horton explained that the drilling company wants to put a pipeline in directly under the sidewalk outside her house. "I'm all for drilling the gas and the oil, but do it on the highways and not in the residential areas and take our homes from us," Horton said.
Many homeowners are concerned that the pipeline will kill plants and trees, but Midstream officials say that's not the case.
"The construction method we're using is called a horizontal directional drill that will be avoiding the root systems of these trees and they won't be affected during construction," explained Bond.
Chesapeake Energy says the pipeline would be built under strict standards to protect everyone's safety.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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