|
|
 |
Tuesday
February 9, 2010 Since 1922 |
City orders company to stop well drilling
By Austin Kinghorn
Baytown Sun Published September 10, 2005 MONT BELVIEU— A visibly angered Mont Belvieu city council ordered Enterprise Products to halt the drilling of a well many suspect will be used to store flammable gases underground.
Mayor Nick Dixon estimated the well has been under construction for two and a half weeks by Enterprise Products. A city ordinance requires any new industrial activity that requires a state or federal permitting process must also gain approval from the city.
“The bottom line is they didn’t get a permit,” said Mayor Nick Dixon.
After adjourning to an impromptu executive session to assess the city’s legal options, the council voted unanimously to issue a letter to Enterprise Products ordering them to cease and desist drilling of the well.
“They ought to be shut down right now,” said councilman Cecil Parker. “Shut them down now until they go through the procedure.”
The brine production well, which extracts salt from the earth, is located at the Enterprise Products location just east of Highway 146 on Loop 207 in Mont Belvieu.
Once the salt is extracted, the cavern can be used to store liquefied propane gas. Mont Belvieu is renowned for such underground storage facilities, which store more LPGs than in any one location in the world.
A plant explosion in 1985 threatened the city’s salt dome and led to several petrochemical companies buying out the homes of about 200 families.
In addition to safety concerns, city administrator Bryan Easum said the city regulates new well projects with concern to noise, vibration and effect on neighboring properties and their value.
“We’re the people here on the ground,” Easum said. “We’re the ones who have to live with it as opposed to the regulatory people in Austin.”
Easum said the company had attained a permit from the Texas Railroad Commission but not from the city.
“It (the cease and desist order) instructs them so cease drilling immediately until such time as they file for a permit with the city,” he said.
Easum also said city officials had met with representatives of Enterprise Products, who offered assurances the company would apply through the city’s permitting process — a promise he said has not been fulfilled.
Officials with Enterprise Products did not attend Thursday’s meeting or return phone calls Friday.
Baytown Sun Published September 10, 2005 MONT BELVIEU— A visibly angered Mont Belvieu city council ordered Enterprise Products to halt the drilling of a well many suspect will be used to store flammable gases underground.
Mayor Nick Dixon estimated the well has been under construction for two and a half weeks by Enterprise Products. A city ordinance requires any new industrial activity that requires a state or federal permitting process must also gain approval from the city.
“The bottom line is they didn’t get a permit,” said Mayor Nick Dixon.
After adjourning to an impromptu executive session to assess the city’s legal options, the council voted unanimously to issue a letter to Enterprise Products ordering them to cease and desist drilling of the well.
“They ought to be shut down right now,” said councilman Cecil Parker. “Shut them down now until they go through the procedure.”
The brine production well, which extracts salt from the earth, is located at the Enterprise Products location just east of Highway 146 on Loop 207 in Mont Belvieu.
Once the salt is extracted, the cavern can be used to store liquefied propane gas. Mont Belvieu is renowned for such underground storage facilities, which store more LPGs than in any one location in the world.
A plant explosion in 1985 threatened the city’s salt dome and led to several petrochemical companies buying out the homes of about 200 families.
In addition to safety concerns, city administrator Bryan Easum said the city regulates new well projects with concern to noise, vibration and effect on neighboring properties and their value.
“We’re the people here on the ground,” Easum said. “We’re the ones who have to live with it as opposed to the regulatory people in Austin.”
Easum said the company had attained a permit from the Texas Railroad Commission but not from the city.
“It (the cease and desist order) instructs them so cease drilling immediately until such time as they file for a permit with the city,” he said.
Easum also said city officials had met with representatives of Enterprise Products, who offered assurances the company would apply through the city’s permitting process — a promise he said has not been fulfilled.
Officials with Enterprise Products did not attend Thursday’s meeting or return phone calls Friday.