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Council approves drilling permit at Arkansas Lane pad despite public opposition
Summary
The Arlington City Council voted to amend a specific use permit to allow TotalEnergies to drill four additional wells at an existing pad on East Arkansas Lane after a public hearing that drew several residents who raised health and environmental concerns; council cited limits on city authority under state law.
The Arlington City Council voted to amend a specific use permit for an existing drilling pad at 3031 East Arkansas Lane to allow four additional wells, approving the request from TotalEnergies (Total E&P Barnett USA LLC).
TotalEnergies’ presenter, Leslie Garvis, told the council the pad has been in place since about 2010 and that the company would add four wells without enlarging the pad. “Our proposed SUP, we've added the dimensions on here. It's approximately 47 by 30 and encompasses the 4 new wells and the 2 existing wells,” Garvis said, noting landscaping, a masonry wall and standard safety measures such as well‑pressure monitoring and automatic shutoffs.
Multiple residents spoke in opposition during the public hearing. Rogelio Mejueiro asked the council to avoid “performative politics” and urged stronger guardrails on fracking. Zaria Dixon accused the council of favoring oil‑and‑gas revenues over public health, saying the council’s actions “show a devotion to oil and gas over our dead bodies” and asking, “What if we made these polluters pay?” Stacy Mello also called on the city to require polluters to cover the costs of toxic emissions, linking the permits to residents’ health and to the city’s fiscal situation.
Mayor Jim Ross reminded speakers that the city’s regulatory authority is limited under Texas law. He cited House Bill 40 and told the public the city can regulate above‑ground activity but that many environmental and health questions fall within state and federal agencies’ jurisdiction, including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
After the hearing closed, Council Member Galante moved to approve the amended specific use permit; Council Member Hogg seconded the motion and the council voted to approve it. The motion passed without a roll‑call tally recorded in the public proceedings.
The council’s action permits additional drilling activity at the site under the city’s SUP conditions; opponents said they will continue to press for stronger limits or remediation measures. The council did not adopt any new local health‑ or air‑quality standards during the hearing, and speakers were told that those topics often fall to state regulators.
