Thank you to Mike Lee, Star-Telegram, for staying after this story. LINK
Chesapeake told city officials and neighborhood residents last week that the department won’t allow the pipeline to run parallel to the highway because of safety concerns. Chesapeake also said the pipeline couldn’t run north of I-30 because it would interfere with the Trinity River Vision redevelopment project.
The company’s representatives said the best alternative would be to run the pipeline beneath the front yards of homes on Carter Avenue. Chesapeake has already acquired the right of way along Carter Avenue, including filing condemnation suits against several landowners.
Safety concerns? It’s too unsafe to run parallel to the highway but they can put it in poor people’s front yards and not blink twice.
But, it turns out that’s not exactly with “the department” (DOT) said.
Maribel Chavez, Transportation Department district engineer, said Friday that the pipeline could run parallel to the freeway if Chesapeake met certain safety criteria.
“I never told them, ‘No, you cannot be in the public right of way,’ ” Chavez said.
However, it’s more convenient for Chesapeake to put the pipeline in people’s yards so we need to keep the pressure on.
It’s not clear whether Chesapeake will agree to reconsider the route.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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That last sentence reminds me of the following parable: a man was going up a hill to get to the pond on the other side when he encountered a deadly but now weak snake. The snake pleaded with the man to just help it to the pond so it could have a chance of surviving, but the man said, "I can't do that b/c you will bite and kill me." The snake persisted and convinced the man to carry it to the pond by promising not to harm him. Upon reaching the pond, the snake stuck its venomous fangs into the man, who protested with his dying breath, "But you promised that you wouldn't harm me!!" to which the snake hissed "I'm a killer snake. That's what I do. You've always known that!!" There's a weakened killer snake on Carter Ave. and in our communities. Learn and survive, neighbors-s-s-s-s-s-s.
So Chesapeake lied again. If their mouth is open they are lying.