Bernie Scheffler, frontrunner in the campaign for Fort Worth City Council District 9, today called for a new city ordinance regulating neighborhood gas drilling to ensure the safety of residents, protection of the environment and the highest possible quality of life for citizens of Fort Worth. Mr. Scheffler is categorically opposed to Urban Gas Drilling. His position on the issue is clearly stated on his campaign web site (www.iheartfw.com) and stands in stark opposition to the positions of his opponents, none of whom categorically oppose drilling in our neighborhoods.
“I’ve been very clear on this point from the beginning of my campaign. I categorically oppose drilling for gas in our neighborhoods,” said Mr. Scheffler. “I believe that neighborhood drilling is unsafe, bad for the environment, bad for quality of life and a poor economic choice. Proponents of urban gas drilling would have us believe that bonuses and royalties add up to an economic windfall for the people of Fort Worth. But residents of neighborhoods where drilling has already started will tell you these limited economic incentives are small compared to increases in property taxes and decreases in home value. And the economic issue becomes less important once residents experience the sharp decline in quality of life caused by neighborhood drilling complexes. This is a simple equation: energy companies win and the people of Fort Worth lose.”
Mr. Scheffler proposes a new city ordinance to virtually eliminate neighborhood gas drilling. A new ordinance, created by a committee comprised of neighborhood residents rather than energy company representatives would create a strong defense against special interests. Mr. Scheffler’s recommendations include:
- Impose a moratorium on all urban gas drilling until studies have been conducted to determine environmental impact as well as the impact on quality of life and safety in neighborhoods where drilling has already begun.
- Increase the minimum set back of drill sites to one mile from homes, parks, schools and hospitals, and ban high-impact variances to the set back rules.
- Permanently ban disposal wells within the city limits.
- Require special use permits for all wells within the city limits, and require drill sites within 2 miles of a park to be reviewed by the city parks board.
- Impose strict limitations (and enforce penalties) on construction hours, noise pollution and light pollution.
- Impose strict limitations (and enforce penalties) on heavy truck traffic within residential areas.
Mr. Scheffler calls upon all residents and neighborhood associations to refuse leasing their mineral rights and to support the passage of a new ordinance. “I urge District 9 residents and all citizens of Fort Worth to flatly reject leasing their mineral rights to energy companies. And I challenge my opponents in this race to rethink their positions on Urban Gas Drilling and get behind the people rather than the energy companies. Despite what the energy companies say, neighborhood drilling will not improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods. The only people getting rich of the Barnett Shale are energy companies.”
About Bernie Scheffler
Bernie Scheffler is running for Fort Worth City Council District 9. The election will be held November 6, 2007. Mr. Scheffler is opposed to Urban Gas Drilling, advocates transportation reform and supports a true local economy. His detailed platform is available for download on his campaign web site at www.iheartfw.com. Mr. Scheffler is an entrepreneur who grew up in Houston, but has called Fort Worth his hometown since the turn of the century. “I wasn’t born here, but I got here as fast as I could,” says Bernie. “Having spent lots of time in every major Texas city, I know that Fort Worth is the place I want to raise a family,” he says. Bernie co-owns Panther City Bicycles, a neighborhood business on Magnolia Avenue, voted “Best Bike Shop” in 2005 and 2006.
