Dear Dr. Faltys and Mr. Robb Welch,

 

(cc: CISD School Board)

 

I understand the next CISD school board meeting is on Monday, March 28th, and I wanted to share some information with you before you meet.  You may have received emails / phone calls regarding gas drilling in our city and the concern that many CISD parents have.  I have researched this issue thoroughly.  I got involved in this issue when S.P.I.N. held a meeting last June regarding the Milner permit.  After attending that meeting I had so many questions.  As always, there were two sides of this story and I was determined to get to the truth.  I spoke with representatives from XTO, petroleum engineers who visited gas drilling sites daily, and homeowners affected by gas drilling in their own cities. I have spent literally hundreds of hours researching this very complex issue. What I’ve discovered is very alarming. Did you know that no environmental impact study has been done regarding gas drilling?  Furthermore, David Barnes, City of Southlake Fire Marshal stated “… the City has yet to conduct a formal gas drilling risk analysis study”  And yet, we have one approved site in our city, with a vote on another site in just over a week.

 

I, along with several other Southlake residents, met with council members in a series of meetings in December.  It was very clear at that time that a majority of our council was/is under the impression that they HAVE to approve gas drilling…legally they felt they had no other choice.  I disagreed and provided previous legal basis to deny, but it was apparent their minds were made up.  I know that you don’t have the ability to approve gas drilling in our city.  BUT, since CISD’s gas lease has expired, our district is in a very unique situation.  In looking at initial proposed well-bore paths from the Milner and Wright sites, XTO does not have to extend a lease to CISD in order for them to extract the minerals.  However, from a public relations stand-point, I would think that they would.  Mr. Dueease, Regulatory Affairs coordinator for XTO, has a prepared PowerPoint slide that is part of his presentation that purports the millions that schools stand to gain from gas drilling in our city.  I have looked at preliminary royalty figures that CISD could expect and it is NOWHERE near the income that Mr. Dueease reports.  (I can provide that information if you are interested) Regardless, is any amount of money that our schools could receive worth the potential health, safety and well-being of our students?  Like CISD, most residents signed gas leases 3 years ago.  We have all learned so much since that time.  You have the obligation to look into these issues before negotiating another lease. 

 

I’ve attached a document that I hope you will take the time to read.  It includes comments made by residents in nearby Argyle to their school board in October of last year.  I know most of these women and would be happy to set up a meeting between you all if you would like.  Furthermore, I’m sure you are familiar with the recent research recommending at least a one mile setback of gas drilling operations from schools.  http://www.fwlna.org/documents/ISDReport.pdf

 

Gas drilling in our city is a very sensitive subject with strong feelings on both sides.  I’m confident that the CISD Administration and School Board will take the time that is necessary to fully understand the issues before signing another lease. 

 

Kind regards,

 

Diane Harris

(proud Mom of Durham Kindergartener and CMS 7th grader)