The News Connection

Speak of gas drilling, Representative Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound) recently announced an agreement to "Best Practices for Pipeline and Municipality Relations" guidelines for pipeline management throughout the Barnett Shale region. Widely viewed as a cooperative effort between industry and community leaders, the Best Practices document was written by a working group comprised of the Texas Pipeline Association and several local mayors and county representatives. The Best Practices document addresses issues with regard to communication, pipeline routing, private property rights and use of public rights-of-way. The document directs the pipeline company to negotiate in “good faith” when acquiring easements from landowners, to provide cities with a company representative who is available 24 hours a day, to require that right-of-way agents be registered with the Texas Real Estate Commission, and to provide the city with a copy of the final pipeline route.

The cities are directed to use the State’s One-Call system when undertaking excavations in order to avoid damaging pipelines. “Anytime people are willing to come together to find non-legislative solutions, it leads to a positive outcome. I’m proud the two groups listened to each other and produced a quality product,” said Parker. Many municipalities within the Barnett Shale have already adopted the Best Practices document, including: Argyle, Bartonville, Carrollton, Copper Canyon, Denton, Dish, and Northlake. Several other cities are expected to adopt the measures in the coming weeks.

Calvin Tillman, Mayor of Dish, Texas, which has had some serious problems with gas pipelines on private property, seemed happy with the new document. “I am very encouraged by the cooperation demonstrated by both industry representatives and civic leaders in crafting this document. This really shows that most anything can be accomplished through open communication and a willingness to work with one another.”