FORT BEND RESIDENTS OPPOSE NATURAL GAS STORAGE FACILITY:

FORT BEND RESIDENTS OPPOSE NATURAL GAS STORAGE FACILITY

Fort Bend Residents Oppose Natural Gas Storage Facility

By Mignette Y. Patrick

Staff Writer

The Katy Times

Residents living south of Katy city limits spoke out at the Katy ISD board meeting against Western Gas Resources plans to convert an area near their homes into a natural gas storage facility.

Since part of the affected area lies within Fort Bend County, on Monday, Fort Bend County Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of a resolution to oppose the facility.  Katy resident Sheriee Harrelson asked KISD trustees to do likewise.

"I ask that you consider taking a stand to oppose this facility.  Their is a real threat, not an exaggerated threat to the area,"  Harrelson says.

Harrelson presented trustees with a petition opposing the project.

Bill Bell says most residents' primary concerns include safety and health hazards contamination of ground water, noise levels and devaluation of property.

Bell says officials from Cinco Ranch have hired an expert to study the risks of ground water contamination.

Another resident, Curt Taylor, cited specific safety hazards.

"This is an old field.  The (gas) well boards are 50 years old. They (company officials) don't even know where all the well boards are yet," Taylor says.  "There is definitely a safety risk."

Taylor says if the company is allowed to go ahead with its plans, the surrounding residential area will cease to grow. [Unless of course, they don't know about it! MM] 

Bob Vicars says no one has addressed the issue of air pollution.

"Carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide will be emitted," says Vicars.  "Winds will carry the pollutants northward into the City of Katy.  The pollutants could aggravate breathing problems the young or old might have."

The residents urged the trustees to oppose the plan by notifying the Texas Air Control Board and the Texas Railroad Commission of their opposition.

Hayes says the board has taken no official position on Western Gas Resourses" [sic] planned facility.