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Memorandum

DATE: February 24, 2011

TO: The Honorable Mayor and Members of the City CouncilFROM Councilmember Angela Hunt

SUBJECT: Gas Drilling Task Force

Cities throughout North Texas have been struggling to address gas drilling in an urbanenvironment. As companies request gas drilling permits from the City of Dallas, it iscritical that we move forward in creating a public taskforce to fully evaluate theenvironmental, health, and safety impact of gas drilling in our city and to propose changes

to the citys gas drilling ordinance .

I therefore respectfully propose the following guidelines for the creation of a Gas DrillingTaskforce. These guidelines were developed after consulting with other North Texas citiesto determine best practices and lessons learned.

Taskforce Composition:

The Gas Drilling Taskforce will be nominated and appointed by the full City Council inthe same manner as appointees for the DART Board and DFW Airport Board. Theappointment process should be concluded by the end of March so the Taskforce may

begin meeting as soon as possible. The Taskforce will be comprised of the followingmembers:

Three experts with a background in environmental impact studies, air quality, waterquality, and/or soil contamination issues in relation to oil and gas drilling.

Two citizens that will be representative of their neighborhood s concerns related togas drilling.

One representative of the gas industry. One representative of environmental groups. One EPA representative from Region 6. One TCEQ representative. One City Legal representative serving in an advisory role. Three alternate taskforce members.

CITY OF DALLAS

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Page 2Gas Drilling Task ForceFebruary 24, 2011 Scope of Inquiry:

The Gas Drilling Taskforce will be responsible for proposing revisions to the citys gasdrilling ordinance and forwarding their recommendations to the Dallas City Council.

The Taskforces scope of inquiry includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Comparative Analysiso Reviewing the Citys current gas drilling and production ordinance and

comparing it to other North Texas cities.o Reviewing current and available studies on the effects of gas drilling and

production. Zoning Requirements

o Proposing standards to address the appropriate setbacks of gas drilling sitesfrom homes, parks, schools, childcare facilities, environmentally sensitiveareas and water sources.

o Proposing standards to address the disclosure of chemicals used duringhydraulic fracturing, the quality of borehole casing and cement used in thedrilling process, and the use of green technology and vapor recoverysystems.

o Proposing standards to address nuisance mitigation, times of operation,security, roadway and traffic impact, public notification, inspections, finesand repeat offenders.

Environmental Health Issueso Analyzing air quality issues in relation to gas drilling and production,

including impact on surrounding neighborhoods and cumulative impact onregional air quality.

o Analyzing water quality and usage issues in relation to gas drilling andproduction, including impact on local and regional water quality and supply.

o Proposing standards to protect residents and the environment from possiblehazards due to gas drilling and production.

The Gas Drilling Taskforce shall select a chair at their first meeting. The Taskforcewill be responsible for setting their agenda and shall schedule and conduct theirmeetings in a manner that will ensure public input and participation.

City Staff Responsibilities:

Providing requested information to the Taskforce. Establishing a city email address or website where concerned citizens unable to

attend public meetings can voice their concerns or suggestions. Forwarding emails to the Taskforce.

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c: Mary K. Suhm, City ManagerThomas P. Perkins, City AttorneyDeborah Watkins, City SecretaryCraig Kinton, City AuditorJudge C. Victor Lander, JudiciaryJeanne Chipperfield, Chief Financial Officer

Ryan S. Evans, First Assistant City ManagerJill A. Jordan, P.E., Assistant City ManagerA.C. Gonzalez, Assistant City ManagerForest Turner, Assistant City ManagerHelena Stevens-Thompson, Assistant to the City Manager