Title
Ordinance - Public Hearing Continuation and Third and Final Reading on an Ordinance Amending Chapter 114 of the Mansfield Code of Ordinances, "Gas Well Drilling and Production," Pertaining to Definitions, Requirements for Seismic Surveys, Submittal Requirements for Gas Well Permits, Expiration of Gas Well Permits, Hours of Operation, Notification, Requirements for Certain Reports, Variances, and Other Drilling, Operation, and Production Activities (OA#15-001)
Requested Action
Consider the subject amendments
Recommendation
Staff recommends approval
Description/History
Based on focus meetings and comments from property owners and gas well operators, the City Attorney has drafted the subject amendments, which include:
1. Definitions such as flaring, hydraulic fracturing, lift compressor facility and tank battery;
2. New requirements for seismic surveys;
3. Notice requirements on single-family subdivision plats near drill sites;
4. Specific submittal requirements for gas well permit applications, including an emergency response action plan with detailed information;
5. Reducing the expiration period for an unused gas well permit to 180 days, with an additional 180-day extension possible;
6. New notification requirements for operator transfer permits;
7. Requirements for electric motors to be used for permanent compressors;
8. New requirements to prohibit fracturing operations on official City holidays, and prohibiting the use of hydraulic fracturing pumping equipment on Saturdays;
9. Requiring a pipeline education program;
10. Requiring on-site emergency shutdown control and annual testing;
11. New requirements for an air quality management plan, extended gas well analysis, and produced water flash analysis; and,
12. Revising the provisions related to Technical Advisors.
Prepared By
Felix Wong, Director of Planning
817-276-4228