Bedford gas rules draw much emotion, little action

One month after the city of Bedford adopted regulations that make natural gas drilling difficult to accomplish in the area, the deputy city manager said the reception so far has been calm.

The regulations, which the Bedford City Council approved Jan. 22, state that drilling cannot occur within 600 feet of parks, residences and many other buildings. Drilling also cannot occur within 1,000 feet of any school as defined by the ordinance.

Drilling is permitted, but BedfordÂ’s high percentage of residential development leaves few areas where drilling within city-approved regulations is possible.

Despite the apparently drilling-prohibitive nature of the regulations, Deputy City Manager Steve Johnson said there has been little or no feedback – positive or negative – from residents or energy companies to the city.

“Our restrictions are not any more stringent than any other city in Tarrant County,” Johnson said, “and even less than in some cities.”

The ordinances of Arlington, Euless, Fort Worth, Granbury, Hurst and North Richland Hills prohibit drilling within 600 feet of a place of public assembly, such as a school or church. Colleyville, Grapevine and Bedford adopted the 1,000-foot regulation.

“Technically the drilling companies can drill anywhere in town as long as they can put enough land around them,” Johnson said. “I think the gas companies really have whatever they want to do, to come in and redevelop whatever they want.”

Harding Co. and Chesapeake Energy, two of three companies that worked with Bedford during the 15-month regulation-drafting process, said they have no plans to drill in the area given the current regulations.

Drilling companies would be interested in pursuing natural gas drilling in the area if not for the setback regulations, said Jerri Robbins, manager of public relations in the Barnett Shale at Chesapeake. The farther back the setbacks, she said, the more difficult it becomes to drill in the area.

Robbins said Chesapeake was “disappointed by the setbacks in those regulations,” and had hoped for distances between 300 feet and 600 feet in the ordinance.

“We’re just hopeful that they relook at the ordinance they’ve written,” she said, “and maybe reduce the setbacks they’ve included.”

XTO Energy, which also worked with Bedford during the drafting process, did not return phone calls to disclose whether it would pursue drilling in the area.

Don Young, who has protested urban gas drilling in the Fort Worth-Arlington area, said he supports BedfordÂ’s natural gas drilling regulations as a positive, cautionary step.

“I thought it was very bold and a very intelligent move,” said Young, founder of FWCanDo, a anti-neighborhood drilling organization. “I’m troubled by the idea, the fact that people have become numb to heavy industry, especially one as dangerous as natural gas drilling.”

Young said he doesnÂ’t think the regulations are representative of a larger move to place harsher restrictions on natural gas drilling companies, of which there are more than 100 operating across and around the Metroplex.

“In all likelihood, if Bedford had more room, things might have been different,” he said.

As of now, no companies have contacted the city of Bedford to pursue area drilling, Johnson said. Any ordinance protests by residents or natural gas drilling companies can be made to the city.

“Our canvas was to take everybody else’s ordinances, look through them and see what was the best fit for Bedford,” he said.

Contact Tronche at jtronche@bizpress.net