Denton Fracking Referendum Collection
| University of North Texas Special Collections



While the ban itself was short lived, the grassroots movement, anti-fracking activists, and the oil and gas industry are still an ever-present force in the Denton community. University of North Texas professor Dr. Adam Briggle played an integral role in organizing and mobilizing anti-fracking voters during the events of 2014 and, as of 2017, still advocates against hydraulic fracturing.
The fracking ban quickly became a divisive subject in the Denton community. Fracking is defined as a process in which shale gas is extracted by pumping heavily pressurized water into small drill channels to fracture the surrounding rock. With nearly 300 gas wells-some near playgrounds, hospitals, and occupied neighborhoods-many citizens became concerned by the environmental and health-related impacts of hydraulic fracturing. Groups opposing the ban argued that fracking is a multibillion dollar industry and not only violates property owners' rights but hypothesized that the ban would only serve to strengthen oil and gas industries in foreign countries.
On November 4, 2014, Dentonites voted and made history. Overwhelmingly 58% of the population voted in favor of the bill and Denton became the first city in Texas to ban fracking. However, not even twelve hours later two lawsuits were filed against the City of Denton by the Texas Land Office and the Texas Oil and Gas Association to repeal the ban. In May of 2015, Texas Governor Greg Abbot signed House Bill 40 (HB40) which gives exclusive jurisdiction over the oil and gas industry to the state and effectively prohibits any ordinance/initiative/regulation banning hydraulic fracturing by individual cities. On June 17, 2015, the City of Denton was forced to repeal the fracking ban as per HB40.
The Texas General Land Office, one of the groups involved in suing the City of Denton after the ban, is one of the oldest operating state agency in Texas. Their primary role is managing state lands and "maximizing state revenue through the prudent stewardship of state lands and natural resources" (The Texas General Land Office). The Texas Oil and Gas Association boasts approximately 5,000 members, both independent and major producers, and serves to represent petroleum interests in the state (TXOGA).

Gift.
This collection covers events and activism leading up to Denton's November 2014 vote to ban hydraulic fracturing, otherwise known as "fracking." UNT Special Collections collected the materials to document the significant political debate and subsequent vote that resulted in Denton becoming the first Texas city to ban fracking.
Series 1 offers physical examples of posters, bulletins, and newsletters from created by groups on both sides of the issue. Series 2 is composed of born digital audio files of oral histories conducted by students in Dr. Priscilla S. Ybarra's English 4650 class in Fall 2015. Transcripts of these oral histories, in a born digital text format, were created by UNT Special Collections staff. Series 3 provides links to news articles and opinions written in regard to the ban that were captured in a web crawl by UNT Libraries in Fall 2015. Series 2 and 3 link to digital resources available in the UNT Digital Library.

Documents and Files:
"Barnett Shale Energy Education Council" resource web page
"Barnett Shale Energy Education Council" website
"Denton city council extends fracking moratorium," Khou
"Denton County Republican Party" website
"Denton Drilling Awareness Group" website
"Denton Gas Well Emissions" Google Maps
"Denton ready for legal fight if fracking ban OK'd," Dallas-Fort Worth Fox News
"Denton tagged articles," StateImpact
"Dirty, Dangerous, and Run Amok," Beyond Natural Gas
"Don't Frack With Denton" Facebook page
"Earthworks" website
"Frack Free Denton" Blog
"Frack Free Denton" Blog
"Frack Free Denton" Facebook page
"Frack Free Denton" Facebook page posts
"Frack Free Denton" Website
"Fracking ban divides Denton," Fuel Fix
"Fracking ban will hurt industry, not Denton," North Texas Daily
"Join Us- North Texans for Natural Gas" web page
"New Economic Impact Report Finds Hydraulic Fracturing Ban Would Cost City of Denton Millions of Dollars," Barnett Shale Energy Education Council
"North Texans for Natural Gas" Facebook page timeline
"North Texans for Natural Gas" website
"Railroad Commission of Texas Mission Statement," The Railroad Commission of Texas
"RELEASE: Infrared videos show Denton oil and gas air pollution still unaddressed by regulators," Frack Free Denton
"Subchapter 22- Gasa Well Drilling and Production," Denton, Texas - Development Ordinances
"Vote 'No' on fracking ban," Denton Record-Chronicle
"Vote For the Fracking Ban" Instagram post, environmenttexas Instagram page
“Sounding Off: Southern Denton County readers tell us how they would vote on the fracking issue,” Dallas Morning News
@AndyOdom7. "The paid pro-Fracking folks are off by themselves at the polling place," Twitter
@BPRisingTide. "Blackland Prairie Rising Tide" Twitter account
@BSEEC. "Ed Ireland, Ph.D." Twitter account
@cardboardcaleb. "So thankful to be able to vote," Twitter
@cathy_mcmullen. "Cathy McMullen" Twitter account
@cathy_mcmullen. "Please come & sign petition," Twitter
@CindySpoon. "UNT students marching against fracking," Twitter
@CindySpoon. "Whoa! Pro-fracking astroturf group," Twitter
@DentonRC. "City of Denton releases statement on proposition," Twitter
@FishCreek1269. "First it was the Russians," Twitter
@frackfreedenton Twitter account
@frackfreedenton. "Remember, folks, Denton Texas Fracking ban," Twitter
@frackfreedenton. "Today's the day," Twitter
@GarrettGraham1. "Folks erected this mock Fracking rig," Twitter
@GarrettGraham1. "We began shooting our new documentary today," Twitter
@iamevesapple, "Coffin racing to pass the ban," Twitter
@inforush. "This sign blew into my yard last night," Twitter
@TarunGirish. "Early Voting!" Twitter
@TXSharon Twitter account
@TXSharon. "And another homemade Fracking ban sign," Twitter
@TXSharon. "Poisoned by the shale?" Twitter
@TXSharon. "Responsible drilling can put fracking pits like this in Denton," Twitter
@TXSharon. "Spreading drilling waste across from UNT Apogee Stadium," Twitter
@TXSharon. "Yet another homemade sign," Twitter
@YFNDentonista. "Rec'd a pro-fracking letter from TWU," Twitter
Baker, Max. "If adopted, Denton fracking ban would face legal tests," WFAA
Barnett, Marissa. "Industry Spending Big to Keep Fracking Out of Denton," Dallas Morning News
Barnett, Marissa. “Denton voters to consider state's first ban on fracking,” Dallas Morning News
Barnett, Marissa. “Energy companies, environmentalists fund Denton fracking fight,” Dallas Morning News
Briggle, Adam. "City better positioned than industry fearmongers claim," Denton Record-Chronicle
Briggle, Adam. "Why Denton should ban fracking," TribTalk
Briggle, Adam. Denton Drilling
Buchele, Mose. "Fracking Fight Puts Denton in National Spotlight," The Texas Tribune
Buchele, Mose. "North Texas Town Could Become First In The State To Ban Fracking," NPR
Casey, Tina. "Fracking’s Slow Motion Train Wreck Revealed in New Report," CleanTechnica
Curran, Rob. "Denton, slacker capital of the American southwest, grows up," The Guardian
Denton Citizens for Responsible Urban Drilling
Denton Council Votes Against Fracking Ban; Issue Goes To Voters This Fall", CBSDFW.com
Denton Directory, DeSmogBlog
Denton Taxpayers For a Strong Economy
Dermansky, Julie. "Supporters of Fracking Ban Face New Wave of McCarthyism in Denton, Texas," Desmog Blog
Edmondson, Dianne. "Frack Free Denton Afraid to Debate Ban?" Denton County Republican Party
Fehling, Dave. "Don't Frack on Me: Local Challenges to the Right to Drill," KERA News
Fisher, Joe. "Pro-Fracking Camp Outspending Opponents in Denton, TX," Shale Daily
Folks, Jeffery. "The Science is Settled: Fracking is Safe," American Thinker
Frack Free Denton "Great Coffin Race" Facebook event
Frack Free Denton. "Frack Free Denton" campaign broadcast, UStream
Frack Free Denton. "Recorded Live on my iPhone," UStream
Frustrated Denton Councilman Sees Fracking Ban as the Only Option," Dallas Business Journal
Gorman, Peter. "Bad Air Day," Fort Worth Weekly
Graham, Garrett. "Don't Frack With Denton Teaser Trailer," Vimeo
Graham, Garrett. "Don't Frack With Denton," Garrett Graham website
Graham, Garrett. "Puppets for the Planet: Won't You Be My Neighbor?" Vimeo
Hall, Phil. "Economic Argument Against the Denton Drilling Ban," Youtube
Hall, Phil. "Property Rights Argument against the proposed drilling ban in Denton, TX," Youtube
Heinkel-Wolfe, Peggy. "Chamber: Vote no to fracking ban," Denton Record-Chronicle
Heinkel-Wolfe, Peggy. "Forum on fracking ban draws crowd," Denton Record-Chronicle
Heinkel-Wolfe, Peggy. "Fracking debate draws cash," Denton Record-Chronicle
Horn, Steve and Tempus, Alexandra. "How Putin Became a Central Figure in the First Ever Vote To Ban Fracking in Texas," This Changes Everything
Horn, Steve. "How Putin Became A Central Figure In the Vote To Ban Fracking In Texas," Mint Press News
Hughes, David. "Drilling Deeper," Post Carbon Institute
Krauss, Clifford. "In Texas, a Fight Over Fracking," New York Times
Krauss, Clifford. "In Texas, a Fight Over Fracking," New York Times
LaFerney, Dalton. "High carcinogen levels detected in Denton park," North Texas Daily
LaFerney, Dalton. "UNT filmmaker chronicles fracking in Denton," North Texas Daily
Malewitz, Jim. "Denton Bans Fracking, But Challenges Almost Certain," The Texas Tribune
Malewitz, Jim. "Denton Fracking Ban Could Spur Wider Legal Clash," The Texas Tribune
Mathis, Emily, "Frackers Have Launched an Aggressive Campaign to Kill Denton's Drilling Ban," Unfair Park: The Dallas Observer Blog
Matthews, Merrill. “Merrill Matthews: Fracking ban vote is much bigger than Denton,” Dallas Morning News
McPhate, Christian. "EPA seeks input on safety of strontium," Denton Record-Chronicle
Mosqueda, Priscila. "Denton Residents Propose Fracking Ban," Texas Observer
Neeley, Josiah. "Denton and Other Texas Cities Shouldn't Ban Fracking," Texas Public Policy Foundation
Oral History Interview Transcript with Adam Briggle
Oral History Interview Transcript with Alana Irby
Oral History Interview Transcript with Amy
Oral History Interview Transcript with Candice Bernd
Oral History Interview Transcript with Chad Pearson
Oral History Interview Transcript with Dr. Deborah Armintor
Oral History Interview Transcript with Elida Tomez
Oral History Interview Transcript with Emily White
Oral History Interview Transcript with Evan Stone
Oral History Interview Transcript with Garrett Graham
Oral History Interview Transcript with James Mays
Oral History Interview Transcript with Jarrett Keim
Oral History Interview Transcript with Keely Briggs
Oral History Interview Transcript with Kevin Roden
Oral History Interview Transcript with Keynan Swanner
Oral History Interview Transcript with Michael Hennen
Oral History Interview Transcript with Tara Hunter
Oral History Interview Transcript with William Hensley
Oral History Interview with Adam Briggle
Oral History Interview with Alana Irby
Oral History Interview with Amy
Oral History Interview with Candice Bernd
Oral History Interview with Chad Pearson
Oral History Interview with Dr. Deborah Armintor
Oral History Interview with Eldia Tomez
Oral History Interview with Emily White
Oral History Interview with Evan Stone
Oral History Interview with Garrett Graham
Oral History Interview with James Mays
Oral History Interview with Jarrett Keim
Oral History Interview with Keely Briggs
Oral History Interview with Kevin Roden
Oral History Interview with Keynan Swanner
Oral History Interview with Michael Hennen
Oral History Interview with Tara Hunter
Oral History Interview with William Hensley
Osborne, James. "In Denton, Tension Mounts Ahead of Fracking Ban Vote," Dallas Morning News
Perry, Mark J. "An amazing chart of an amazing job-creating state; we all owe a debt of gratitude to 'Saudi Texas' and the shale boom," AEI Ideas
Peterson, Traci. "Potential well water contaminants higher near natural gas drilling, UT Arlington study says," UTA News Center
Phillips, Tom. "Denton City Council Remarks"
Porter, David. "Letter to Secretary John Kerry," Railroad Commission of Texas
Roden, Kevin. "Could a Frack-Free Denton Result in an Economic Boom?" Roden for Denton
Roden, Kevin. "Roden for Denton Blog," Roden for Denton.
Roden, Kevin. "Search results for 'fracking," Roden for Denton
Sakelaris, Nicholas. "Are Flower Mound Kids in Danger of Getting Cancer?," Dallas Business Journal
Sakelaris, Nicholas. "Denton Residents Start Petition to Ban Fracking in the City," Dallas Business Journal
Sakelaris, Nicholas. "Does Vladimir Putin Want Denton to Ban Fracking?," Dallas Business Journal
Sakelaris, Nicholas. "Fracking Debate gets Personal One Week Before Historic Denton Vote," Dallas Business Journal
Schneider, Andrew. "In Texas, Traffic Deaths Climb Amid Fracking Boom," NPR
Shaletest Environmental Testing. "Project Playground: Cleaner Air for Active Kids," Shaletest
Silverman, Lauren. "Denton CIty Council to Vote on Fracking Ban Tuesday," KERA News
Silverstein, Amy. “Denton Didn't Ban Fracking Last Night, but Voters Will Get a Chance to in November,” Unfair Park: The Dallas Observer Blog
Silverstein, Amy. “Denton Homeowners Are Suing to Stop EagleRidge's "Loud and Constant" Fracking Operation,” Unfair Park: The Dallas Observer Blog
Smith, Sean. "Eagle ridge blowout denton tx," Youtube
The Perryman Group, "The Adverse Impact of Banning Hydraulic Fracturing in the City of Denton on Business Activity and Tax Receipts in the City and State," The Perryman Group
TXSharon. "Blue Daze Drilling Reform" blog
TXSharon. "Study: Higher concentration of gas wells means more hospital visits for residents," Blue Daze Drilling Reform
TXSharon. "Today was a bad news day for fracking," Blue Daze Drilling Reform
Watson, Kirsten. "Social media aids Frack Free Denton," North Texas Daily.
Wedding, Paul. "Fracking company receives wiaver for suspension two months ebfore potential ban," North Texas Daily
Zoom, Doktor. "Texas Loves 'Local Control' Until City Votes To Ban Fracking," Wonkette
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