The Arlington City Council is expected to hear an earful tonight from citizens concerned about drilling more gas wells near schools.
French energy giant Total Energies is trying to get approval to drill three new wells in addition to the two already at it’s site on South Watson Road.
The wells would be right next to Mother’s Heart Learning Center, which was founded 18 years ago by Wanda Vincent. She says her job is to protect children, but she fears the school's proximity to the drilling site is potentially harming them.
"Can we promise these children, 10, 20, 30 years from now, that [they] can be healthy?" Vincent asked members of the Planning and Zoning Commission last month.
She's not the only one who feels that way. Members of the group Livable Arlington say they've gotten hundreds of people to sign a petition opposing the new wells, including dozens of parents with kids in nearby schools.
Last year, the city council denied the company’s request to drill more wells. The council is voting again tonight, this time with four new council members.
Total Energies hasn't said much about the controversy, but it does say it operates in a safe and environmentally responsible way, in compliance with local and state requirements.
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