Midlanders and Local Drilling Company Still Battling Drilling Permits
By: Jenne Anderson
Updated: November 13, 2012
MIDLAND-- Robert Slagel is a retired petroleum engineer with strong opinions over drilling near homes.
"This is wrong," said Slagel regarding Tuesday's City Council decision. "It's wrong for Midland and there is no reason why they have to destroy a property."
On Tuesday Slagel and dozens of his neighbors showed up to hear the results of this nearly year-long battle with oil and gas company RSP Permian.
And it seems no one left completely satisfied after the council granted 2 drilling permits and denied the other 3 requests.
"It's just about as bad to approve 2," said Slagel. "You could approve them all because, I'm telling you folks, Sparks (Councilman Jeffery Sparks) is off key."
But not everyone shared these feelings.
"As a resident in that community personally, I would have preferred to have no wells there," said Craig Tellinghuisen who lives off of Briarwood. "But I'm very impressed with our city council and the way the whole issue has been addressed."
Midland Mayor Wes Perry says he had no idea what the ruling was going to be before the meeting, but he's confident each council member used their best judgment, and a fair decision was reached.
"I felt like voting with my conscience and my heart and everybody else needs to do what they're doing, so at the end of the day that's the right decision," explained Mayor Perry.
But this is still discouraging for Slagel, who says he just wants to protect his home.
"The majority of the people it's going to downgrade the value of our property, is what it amounts to," said Slagel.
The Co-CEO of RSP Permian declined an interview, but says he's not done fighting either.
He says the company is determined to secure the 3 additional drilling permits that were denied.
It's unclear when the issue will be back on the city council agenda.
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"This is wrong," said Slagel regarding Tuesday's City Council decision. "It's wrong for Midland and there is no reason why they have to destroy a property."
On Tuesday Slagel and dozens of his neighbors showed up to hear the results of this nearly year-long battle with oil and gas company RSP Permian.
And it seems no one left completely satisfied after the council granted 2 drilling permits and denied the other 3 requests.
"It's just about as bad to approve 2," said Slagel. "You could approve them all because, I'm telling you folks, Sparks (Councilman Jeffery Sparks) is off key."
But not everyone shared these feelings.
"As a resident in that community personally, I would have preferred to have no wells there," said Craig Tellinghuisen who lives off of Briarwood. "But I'm very impressed with our city council and the way the whole issue has been addressed."
Midland Mayor Wes Perry says he had no idea what the ruling was going to be before the meeting, but he's confident each council member used their best judgment, and a fair decision was reached.
"I felt like voting with my conscience and my heart and everybody else needs to do what they're doing, so at the end of the day that's the right decision," explained Mayor Perry.
But this is still discouraging for Slagel, who says he just wants to protect his home.
"The majority of the people it's going to downgrade the value of our property, is what it amounts to," said Slagel.
The Co-CEO of RSP Permian declined an interview, but says he's not done fighting either.
He says the company is determined to secure the 3 additional drilling permits that were denied.
It's unclear when the issue will be back on the city council agenda.
Like Jenne Anderson's page on Facebook!
