By Jim Malewitz | The New York Times
DALLAS — Claudia and Ed Meyer do not want natural gas drilling near their West Dallas home or anywhere else in the city, for that matter.
Their neighborhood sits next to a patch of land that developers, eager to tap the edge of the Barnett Shale, sought four years ago. Worried about the noise and the impact on air and water quality and a two-lane road where tankers might rumble to and fro, the Meyers, both in their 70s, have become fixtures at city meetings as they fight efforts to allow drilling.
“There’s so much to be concerned about,” Ms. Meyer said. “The more you learn, the more aspects there are.”
Their effort may seem pointless in a state built on oil and now embracing a drilling bonanza unseen in 30 years. But Dallas has not welcomed drillers with open arms. The saga over natural gas production here includes twists reminiscent of the 1978-91 television drama that bore the city’s name. Now, after a long-running debate, the city is considering new rules that industry backers say would effectively bar any drilling within city limits, depriving Dallas and its mineral holders of revenue.
Whether the rules would keep out all drilling is an open question, as is how much money the city could reap from the Barnett.
