That's a Gas

Dallas finally passes strict gas drilling rules after years of debate

It's been a long road for Dallas gas drilling opponents and proponents alike. The journey that began in 2007 reached a conclusion of sorts on December 11, when the Dallas City Council approved a new gas drilling ordinance that is among the strictest in the nation.

The new ordinance, which was proposed by the City Plan Commission, passed 9-6. The main issue at stake was the setback distance between drilling sites and homes and other protected properties like parks and schools.

The 2007 ordinance prescribed a 300-foot setback, but a gas drilling task force (appointed by then-mayor Dwaine Caraway) recommended a 1,000-foot distance. In September, the City Plan Commission recommended its own setback figure of 1,500 feet. This is in line with other cities in Dallas-Fort Worth. Flower Mound also has a 1,500-foot rule, while Denton sets the limit at 1,200 feet.

As you may recall, Trinity East Energy unsuccessfully tried to obtain gas drilling permits in August. Had they been approved, the permits would have paved the way for gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing in parklands and the floodplain — both of which are currently against city code. The permits appeared destined for approval, but a slew of vocal opponents swayed the City Plan Commission (and ultimately, the City Council) into an across-the-board denial.

The Texas Campaign for the Environment backed the ordinance, though spokesperson Zac Trahan says it's not perfect. "We'd prefer to have a complete ban on drilling, or any industrial activity on parklands," he says. The 1,500-foot setback effectively does that, though the council can allow drilling closer to protected spaces with a three-fourths approval vote.

Drilling proponents worry that the new ordinance will make any natural gas or hydraulic fracking activity impossible in Dallas County and have hinted at taking legal action. Interim director of sustainable development David Cossum says this new ordinance is now the law of land in Dallas "until someone wants to amend it again."

Fracking in Dallas just got a whole lot harder thanks to new ordinance.

guardian.co.uk

Fracking in Dallas just got a whole lot harder thanks to new ordinance.

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E-Cigarette News

Dallas City Council places restrictions on vaping in public

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Man vaping

Vaping will now be banned exactly like smoking, thanks to a new ordinance from the Dallas City Council.

At their December 11 meeting, the council passed an ordinance to ban vaping in all the same areas where smoking is not allowed. It'll go into effect on December 11, 2025 — giving everyone a year to get into compliance.

Proposed by City of Dallas Environmental Commission (EVC) and the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability (OEQS), the ordinance amends the definition of “smoking” in the Dallas City Code to include the use of vaping devices.

The ordinance does not ban vaping — it only bans where you can vape: no vaping in all indoor and enclosed spaces; within 15 feet of building entrances; and on park property. The ordinance also bans marijuana smoking in those same places.

In addition, the amendment requires restaurants, hotels, fitness centers and other businesses to update their signage to clearly state that both smoking and electronic smoking devices are prohibited.

The ordinance already earned widespread support from health organizations such as the Dallas County Health and Human Services, the American Lung Association, and the American Heart Association. These organizations, along with the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Surgeon General, have all raised concerns about the health risks of direct and second-hand exposure to vaping aerosols, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children and older adults.

Dallas is not the first city to impose such a ban: San Antonio enacted a similar ban in October. Theirs goes into effect on January 1, 2025.

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