Southlake Residents Raising Concerns Over Drilling Near Homes

SOUTHLAKE (CBSDFW.COM) - Outside his Southlake home, Dr. Gordon Aalund plays a little soccer with his young twin boys.  Aalund says he moved his family to the suburb and thought it would be long-term.

"We moved here with the idea that we were going to be here for 20 years," explains Aalund.

But now the father of three isn't too sure and it's all because of a new neighbor he doesn't want.  "It's about 400 feet down the end of my street," points out Aalund.

Another father just a few houses down can relate.  Troy Findlay says his house from a possible drill site is, "1300 feet from us."
The two fathers worry about the city giving its first ever permit for a natural gas well.

The application calls for 18 wells to be drilled on the Milner Ranch, which is near three subdivisions.  "The things that concern me the most is the gas they can vent into the air as well as the drilling chemicals they can pump into the ground," says Aalund.

But not everyone is against the new neighbor.

At a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on November 18, supporters rallied behind XTO energy.  "I am in support of this I do want our country to move forward with clean energy and we need to use our own natural resources," said Cheryl Davidson to the commission.

Charles Griffith agreed, "I think it's time we get on with natural gas and do it with the right amount of care and control."

Though support for the permit is down the line what has frustrated many has been the process.  A motion to recommend approval for the gas well failed in front of the Planning and Zoning Commission.  Now the permit request will go to city council.  They will only need four votes to pass the permit instead of the 6 usually required.

"It was clear they denied this permit and city council is now using a technical loophole to change the way they have to vote that compromises the integrity of this process," explains Aalund who was at the meeting in November.

Aalund and Findlay have already made thousands of dollars leasing their mineral rights to XTO, but they would be happy to give it back to make sure their families are safe.  "We were originally told hey it's a whole bunch of water and sand it's a clean safe process," says Findlay "A lot of details have come to fruition and you have learned hey this may not be so good for the area and the environment."

The city council is expected to look at the issue Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

Jeff Neu with XTO released a statement saying "XTO is committed to working with homeowners, communities and council members to address their concerns. XTO takes great pride in its long history of drilling and developing natural resources. Our own experience and compliance with municipal, state and federal regulations demonstrate that these operations can be conducted safely and in an environmentally responsible manner."

CBS 11 left several messages for the Milner family, but our calls have not been returned.