HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 17443-03-2007ORDINANCE NO. 17443-03-2007
AN ORDINANCE EXTENDING THE MORATORIUM ON THE
ACCEPTANCE OF APPLICATIONS FOR SALT WATER DISPOSAL
WELLS PENDING CONSIDERATION OF REVISED REGULATIONS
REGARDING SALT WATER DISPOSAL WELLS IN THE CURRENT
GAS DRILLING ORDINANCE OF CHAPTER 15 OF THE CITY CODE;
PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE AND PROVIDING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, on December 11, 2001, the City Council adopted Ordinance Number 14880
regulating gas drilling within the city limits of Fort Worth; and
WHEREAS, the Ordinance adopted in December of 2001 prohibited salt water disposal
wells within the city limits of Fort Worth; and
WHEREAS, since 2001 over five hundred permits have been issued for drilling and
production of gas within the city limits; and
WHEREAS, in the past five years, gas drilling and production has moved from sparsely
populated areas in the northern part of the City to more densely urbanized areas in the southern,
western and eastern portions of the City; and
WHEREAS, in December of 2005, the City Council appointed a task force composed of
representatives of the gas industry, developers and neighborhood representatives to study
revisions to the gas drilling ordinance that would improve the quality of life for those citizens
working and living near the drilling sites; and
WHEREAS, the task force recommended increasing the permitted distance requirements
for high impact permits, increasing notification to the citizens of Fort Worth, additional noise
abatement procedures, site security, signage, and other revisions, that will provide additional
protections of surface property rights but continue to allow access to the minerals; and
WHEREAS, an additional concern raised by the task force was the amount of truck
traffic on city roads as a result of drilling within the City and the hauling of salt water to salt
water disposal wells outside the city limits; and
WHEREAS, before adoption of the proposed revised Ordinance on June 13, 2006,
regulations were added to allow salt water disposal wells within the city limits in industrially
zoned districts for lease use only, provided the salt water was injected into the Ellenberger
Formation and the casing is cemented to the surface, for the purpose of reducing truck traffic
related to salt water disposal; and
WHEREAS, since the adoption of Ordinance Number 16986-06-2006, a variance
request was submitted for the City Council's consideration to allow salt water to be injected into
the Caddo Sands formation without cementing the casing to the surface, raising concerns about
surface and ground water contamination ;and
WI~REAS, on October 3, 2006, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 17224-10-
2006, establishing a moratorium until January 16, 2007 on the acceptance of applications for salt
water disposal wells as regulated by the Gas Drilling Ordinance to explore the effects of and
alternatives to salt water injection wells; and
WHEREAS, on January 9, 2007, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 17361-01-
2007 extending the moratorium until March 20, 2007 on the acceptance of applications for salt
water disposal wells as regulated by the Gas Drilling Ordinance to explore the effects of and
alternatives to salt water injection wells ;and
VVI~REAS, it is advisable to extend the moratorium a second time to July 31, 2007 to
allow the staff and City Council time to further study all the impact and effects of salt water
wells within the city limits, any alternative methods available for the disposal of the salt water;
and the current state laws and city regulations for the disposal of salt water within the city limits
of Fort Worth; and
WI~REAS, all findings in Ordinance Nos. 17224-10-2006 and 17361-01-2007 are
reaffirmed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1.
The expiration of the moratorium on acceptance of applications of any type of salt water
disposal wells, enacted pursuant to Ordinance No. 17224-10-2006, as extended by 17361-01-
2007, is hereby extended from March 20, 2007 until July 31, 2007 at 11:59 p.m., or until the City
Council terminates the moratorium, whichever occurs first.
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SECTION 2.
.All provisions of Ordinance No. 17224-10-2006, as extended by Ordinance No. 17361-
01-2007, with the exception of the expiration date extended by Section 1 of this Ordinance, shall
remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 3.
It is hereby declared to be the intention of the City Council that the sections, paragraphs,
sentences, clauses and phrases of this Ordinance are severable, and, if any phrase, clause,
sentence, paragraph or section of this ordinance shall be declared void, ineffective or
unconstitutional by the valid judgment or fmal decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, such
voidness, ineffectiveness or unconstitutionality shall not affect any of the remaining phrases,
clauses, sentences, paragraphs and sections of this Ordinance, since the same would have been
enacted by the City Council without the incorporation herein of any such void, ineffective or
unconstitutional phrase, clause, sentence, paragraph or section.
SECTION 4.
This ordinance shall take effect upon adoption.
AI'I'RO I) AS TO FORM ANl~ I.~EGAI.ITY:
By• 04- (~
ant City orney
ADOPTED: March 20 2007
EFFECTIVE: March 20 2007
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City ®f F® !~/®rth, Texas
Mayor and Council Communication
COUNCIL ACTION: Approved on 3/20/2007 -Ordinance No. 17443-03-2007
DATE: Tuesday, March 20, 2007
LOG NAME: 122EXTMORATORSW REFERENCE NO.: **G-15631
SUBJECT:
Adoption of Ordinance Extending the Moratorium on the Acceptance of Applications for Salt Water
Disposal Wells as Regulated by Article II, Chapter 15 of the City Code, Regarding Gas Drilling and
Production
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached ordinance extending the moratorium to July 31,
2007 for acceptance of applications for salt water disposal wells as regulated by Article II, Chapter 15 of the
City Code, regarding Gas Drilling and Production.
DISCUSSION:
On October 3, 2006, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 17224-10-2006, establishing a 60 day
moratorium on the acceptance of applications for salt water disposal wells as regulated by the Gas Drilling
Ordinance. The moratorium was extended on January 9, 2007 until March 20, 2007 by Ordinance No.
17361-01-2007
On December 11, 2001, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 14880 regulating the drilling and extraction
of natural gas within the city limits: The ordinance adopted in 2001 prohibited salt water disposal wells
within the city limits of Fort Worth. Since 2001, over 500 permits have been issued for drilling and
production of gas within the city limit and gas drilling and production has moved from sparsely populated
areas in the northern part of the City to more densely urbanized areas in the southern, western and eastern
portions of the City.
In December of 2005, the City Council appointed a task force composed of representatives from the gas
industry, developers and neighborhood representatives to study revisions to the gas drilling ordinance that
would improve the quality of life for those citizens working and living near the drilling sites. The task force
recommended increasing the permitted distance requirements for high impact permits, increasing
notification to the citizens of Fort Worth, additional noise abatement procedures, site security, signage, and
other revisions, that would provide additional protections of surface property rights but continue to allow
access to the minerals. An additional concern raised by the task force was the amount of truck traffic on
city roads as a result of drilling within the City and the hauling of salt water to salt water disposal wells
outside the city limits.
Before the adoption of the revised gas drilling ordinance on June 13, 2006, regulations were added to allow
salt water disposal wells within the city limits in industrially zoned districts for lease use only, provided the
salt water was injected into the Ellenberger Formation and the casing is cemented to the surface. The
regulations were added for the purpose of reducing truck traffic related to salt water disposal.
Since the adoption of Ordinance No. 16986-06-2006, a variance request was submitted for the City
Council's consideration to allow salt water to be injected into the Caddo Sands formation without cementing
the casing to the surface, raising concerns about possible contamination to the ground and surface water
Logname: 122EXTMORATORSW Page 1 of 2
and surrounding property.
Due to the environmental and other health and safety concerns, staff advised further study of the impacts
and effects of salt water wells within the city limits, including any alternative methods available for the
disposal of the salt water; and the current state laws and city regulations for the disposal of salt water within
the city limits of Fort Worth. In addition to researching the issue, staff met with the industry to discuss the
concerns of the City and the industry and explore possible solutions. A second extension of the
moratorium will allow staff to complete its research and receive recommendations from the industry.
Adoption of the attached ordinance would extend the moratorium from March 20, 2007 to July 31,
2007. The July 31, 2007 expiration date would maintain the status quo while the staff prepares and
presents to the City Council proposed revisions to the current ordinance regulating salt water disposal wells
within the city limits of Fort Worth. The ordinance would not apply to applications that have been accepted
by the City before the enactment of the ordinance on October 3, 2006.
FISCAL INFORMATION/CERTIFICATION:
The Finance Director certifies that this action will have no material affect on City funds.
TO Fund/Account/Centers
FROM Fund/Account/Centers
Submitted for City Manager's Office by: Karen Montgomery (6222)
Originating Department Head: David Yett (7623)
Additional Information Contact: Sarah Fullenwider (7619)
Logname: 122EXTMORATORSW Page 2 of 2