Arlington council approves 10 Maverick gas-well permits after hours of public opposition

The Arlington City Council voted Feb. 4 to approve a resolution authorizing 10 new gas well permits for the Maverick drill site, a decision that drew more than an hour of public comment from residents, health professionals and environmental advocates who said the wells would threaten children—s health and the surrounding neighborhood.

Speakers opposing the permit said the proposed site sits close to day care facilities and elementary schools and cited peer-reviewed studies and local health observations tying oil-and-gas operations to respiratory problems, preterm births and other risks. Rita Beving of Public Citizen urged the council to deny the permit, saying, "I ask you to deny this permit." Wanda Vincent, owner of Mother's Heart Learning Center, told council members, "The health and safety of our children is of utmost importance." Leslie Garvis, the Total Energies representative, told council that drilling decisions are made on geology: "We drill in what's called the Barnett Shale ... that is the only thing we make the decision on is on geology."

The public hearing followed staff presentations and a legal reminder that the city—s authority over oil-and-gas operations is limited by state law. City staff noted that House Bill 40 (2015) substantially restricts municipal regulation of oil-and-gas activity and that some matters, including air quality and public-health regulation, fall to state and federal agencies such as the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the Texas Railroad Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency. The staff remark in the meeting record stated that the city—s authority is "limited to the above ground surface activity." (City staff presentation and public hearing comments are reflected in the meeting record.)

Council action and procedural notes

After public comment, Councilmember Hogg moved and Councilmember Pham seconded a motion; the motion passed. The meeting record shows only that the motion passed; the transcript does not include a roll-call vote…