Fort Bend Officials Delay Gas Storage Field Action:

Fort Bend Officials Delay Gas Storage Field Action

By Bob Haenel

The Katy Times

Fort Bend County Commissioners Court Monday took no action on a request for aid from group of residents trying to stop a proposed gas storage facility near their homes.

Commissioners, for the second week in a row, heard form someone opposed to the facility proposed for construction by a Colorado-based group.

William L. Scoggin, representing RLG Investments, told commissioners his firm is opposing the storage facility because the investment group believes the facility would hamper an attempt by the group to develop a 565 acre tract just south of Katy.

Scoggin said the subdivision would have about 1,000 single-family homes in it after it is fully developed.

Western Gas Resources, Inc., has applied to the Texas Railroad Commission and the Texas Air Control Board for approval to operate a natural gas compression and storage facility utilizing about 2,100 acres of the Fulshear gas field, known as the Hillebrenner site.

According to Phyllis Vicars, a resident who addressed commissioners at last week's regularly scheduled meeting, the firm has purchased an 80-acre site at the intersection of Green Busch and Roesner roads.

However, homeowners say the field, which is about 7,000 feet below the surface, is underneath their homes and expressed concerns about safety, health, water and property values.

Scoggin, who addressed the commissioners at the regularly scheduled meeting held Monday, Oct. 21, said the field does not extend underneath RLG's property but its proximity has raised the investment group's concerns enough to seek the same support from Fort Bend County in an attempt to stop construction of the gas storage facility.

He said the facility would threaten the water supply to the area.  The development planned by RLG would require the establishment of a municipal utility district because the site is outside city limits. 

Fort Bend County Precinct 3 Commissioner Alton Pressley suggested commissioners wait one week "to bring everyone up to speed" on the matter before taking any action. Precinct 4 Commissioner Bob Lutts was absent from last week's meeting, and Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage was absent from this week's meeting.

County Attorney Bud Childers told commissioners he was going to attend a hearing in which the issue might be discussed in a "fact-finding" role.

Opponents of the storage facility say they are unsure when the state railroad commission would consider the permit application for the facility.