Vantage Energy Drill Site Waivers -What you should know!
There have been some developments regarding the Vantage Energy drill site and waiver activities since our last communication to you and there is important information that you should know.
First you should know that Wedgwood Square has NOT completed negotiations on high-impact agreements for the Vantage Lessors and that any piece of paper, form, or proposal that your are approached by Vantage Energy with has not been vetted by Wedgwood Square Neighborhood Association and Empowerment Zone. Further if you are approached by Vantage Energy with a lease agreement, it has been explained that the agreement is NOT the SFWA lease agreement and Vantage Energy offers this without SFWA or Wedgwood Square NA endorsement; if you choose to sign this agreement, you must
understand that it has not been vetted by Wedgwood Square NEZ or SFWA.
At the beginning of the year when Vantage informed Wedgwood Square that the company had a drill site location under contract at Trail Lake Drive ("Harbor Freight Tools" shopping center), the company made repeated statements that the District 6 City Councilman, Mr. Jungus Jordan had already informed the company that the location was fine with him and with the City's plans. This statement was made to Wedgwood Square President Tolli Thomas at least three times in person and several times over the phone, during conversations with Vantage Energy's CEO Mr. Roger Biemans and Representative Mr. Barry Osborne.
When Wedgwood Square President Tolli Thomas inquired with Jungus Jordan
about these statements, Mr. Jordan stated that this was not the case and that he had instructed the company that they would need 100% of the waivers and neighborhood support in order to get a permit for this Trail
Lake Drive location. Tolli Thomas asked Mr. Jordan to attend the coming High-Impact Residents meeting to provide that information to the Wedgwood Square High-Impact Residents first hand, which he did.
Vantage Energy has, as a result of the discussions related to the Trail Lake Drive drill site location, been in discussion with Chesapeake Energy to obtain their property at S-820 for the use of a drill site instead. Vantage, though the company did not have the site purchased at the time, applied for a permit for the S-820 site on March 1st and also began meeting with other neighborhood groups, where there were no High-Impact
properties or where there were very few high-impact properties to make a presentation to the residents about the drilling, the permitting, and to obtain written and signed statements of support of the S-820 drill site.
Vantage Energy also began approaching residents outside of Wedgwood Square
but within 1,000 feet of their possible S-820 drill site with offers for waivers. Some of these residents contacted Wedgwood Square President Tolli Thomas because they were concerned that the compensation offered for the waivers was low. It was reported that Vantage Energy's Representatives were offering only $500.00 for these City Drafted Waivers despite the original Vantage Lease agreement obligations that require a minimum of $1,000.00 compensation for the waivers. When contacted on the issue,
Vantage Energy stated that there was some unintentional error or confusion on this point but that any errors would be corrected and that the Representatives had been instructed to offer $1,000.00 to everyone no matter their lease status or affiliation. Vantage Energy also stated during this time that the company would prefer that any additional drill site specifications and protections be incorporated into the permit with the City rather than included in separate written agreements with the Vantage Lessor and further that Vantage Energy had altered it position on the interpretation of the lease agreement's requirements for separate written agreements for stated setbacks in the original lease form.
Today, Wedgwood Square learned that Vantage Energy Representatives are approaching Wedgwood Square high-impact residents with an offer of $1,000.00 compensation for the residents to sign the City Drafted Waiver, which requires no additional environmental or quality of life protections.
Further, the company is reported by Wedgwood Square property owners to be
very insistent and to be stating the following:
(paraphrased by witness) "Tom Agase just left ... trying to get me to sign. He used every effort to encourage me to sign... He says he believes this was all changed and you are on board and even if He is wrong FW is over riding Wedgwood. Short of threats he was very adamant and I almost caved but I told him I stand with the group and want you to consider our offers before I can be bought with [1000.00] bucks. We are still holding our ground correct? HE said I was one of a few who have not signed. I told him he had his facts wrong at the meeting we all stood firm
as a group. He was searching for information."
Wedgwood Square is NOT opposed to the drill site location at S-820 but believes that Vantage Energy should honor its obligations as set forth in the SFWA-Vatnage/Caffey lease agreement and further should work with the
Residents and Neighborhood Association to make this drill site the safest and least impacting as possible. However, Wedgwood Square is very concerned with these tactics that Vantage Energy's Representatives are
stated to be using.
Wedgwood Square has NOT made any agreements with Vantage Energy related to
the waivers. Wedgwood Square has no reason to expect, based on the company's statements that Vantage Energy will submit to negotiating and executing separate written agreements with Vantage Lessors once the company obtains the City's Drafted Waiver for the purpose of permitting, which is all that is required for processing the permit application with the City of Fort Worth.
Wedgwood Square is VERY concerned with statements that "FW is over riding Wedgwood".
Wedgwood Square reported this to the SFWA, has made an inquiry with Vantage Energy and forwarded this concern to Councilperson Mr. Jungus Jordan.
Vantage Energy states that they are speaking with their Representative to understand what statements were made during the Representative's communications with Wedgwood Square Residents.
Councilperson Jungus Jordan states that he has given no indication whatsoever that would lead to perceptions that the City would "override Wedgwood" in relation to the permitting process.
Please contact the Association if you experience something similar or if you have ANY questions or concerns.