After council member Angela Hunt pushed the city council to form the gas drilling task force Dave Neumann only talked about, it's time to assemble the dream team: Moments ago, Dallas City Hall sent word that it's taking applications from those interested in serving on the task force. For those who forgot, here's the task force makeup:
Those wanting to apply can do so right here. Just make sure you can live up to the commitment: The city says applicants "must be willing to meet on at least eight Tuesday afternoons from 2 to 4 p.m. from July through October," and that there will be two public hearings that may take place after work. (I should think so.) Linda Koop's chairing the Ad Hoc Selection Committee, which will ultimately choose the task force members. And she says this is no small deal.
- Three experts in environmental impact studies, air quality, water quality, and/or soil contamination issues in relation to oil and gas drilling. Examples include professors, environmental attorneys, environmental consultants and land use/zoning attorneys
- Three industry/business representatives. Examples include gas drilling company representatives with a presence in the Barnett Shale and/or persons who have implemented "best practices", such as oil and gas attorneys
- Three citizens and/or environmental group representatives
"This is an opportunity to serve our community in a very significant way," she says in the city's release. "The council needs knowledgeable, experienced, and broad minded individuals for the task force. The members will consider all sides of a broad range of issues related to natural gas drilling and will develop recommendations to update our current ordinance and permitting process."
