DISH — About two dozen residents grilled local energy officials for more than two hours Tuesday night, trying find out what lessons they learned after an Atmos Energy compressor spewed natural gas for 45 minutes one night last month. They also wanted to know more about the long-term outlook for those living next door to compressor stations shared by energy companies cashing in on the Barnett Shale.

Six representatives from Atmos Energy and Energy Transfer Partners came to the town meeting, although five companies in all were invited to the question-and-answer session. Enbridge Gas Distri­bution, Chief Oil & Gas and J-W Oper­ating Co. did not respond to his invitation, Mayor Bill Merritt said.   

DISH officials made the overture after hearing complaints from residents who had increasing health and safety concerns following the Atmos compressor incident.

In addition, residents had been complaining about bright lights, excessive noise and noxious fumes ever since Atmos, Enbridge and Energy Transfer began expanding the plant at 2200 Strader Road earlier this year. Residents wondered how they could live with as many as 10 engines planned for the joint-venture plant. At the nearby intersection of Tim Donald and Meadows Ranch roads, a second pipeline compressor station has expanded in the past year as well. Both compressor stations were built just beyond the town’s boundaries.

Atmos officials said that the Oct. 16 discharge was not a leak or an equipment failure. They also said it was not a reportable incident by state or federal standards, although they were not able to say how much gas had been released into the air between 11 p.m. and midnight that night. The gas did not catch fire, nor was anyone asked to leave home.

In describing the compressor’s problem to residents, Atmos engineer Rick Baldwin said a relief valve released the gas because pressure built up inside the pipeline before it got to the shut-off mechanism. Since the pressure reached the relief valve’s trigger before it reached the shutdown mechanism, the relief valve went off first. The two settings have been reversed, so the company does not anticipate further gas releases, Baldwin said.

Residents remained skeptical, however, saying that it was the second time in a year that a valve released gas into DISH neighborhoods. It took about 45 minutes for energy officials to respond both times. The Atmos facility is not staffed locally; instead, employees in Dallas monitor the station by computer. Atmos officials confirmed that a Justin firefighter shut down the compressor before they got there on Oct. 16.

Ponder Police Chief Tim Zimmerman, a DISH resident, was among the first responders.

“You could see a lot of the gas settling — and that was a question a lot of the first responders had at the scene: We’d like to see some responsibility. If your response time is over 40 minutes, then we need to know, on a local level, when should we evacuate?” Zimmerman said.

Resident Michael Guidry told officials they should write a safety plan and distribute it widely. He also said the energy companies should invite first responders to tour the plants.

“When the police came out, they didn’t know where it was, or what it was. They were running around Joe’s [Ratliff, former commissioner] house looking for it,” Guidry said.

Atmos spokesman James Johnson said since Oct. 16, the company has begun working on better communications with police and fire departments.

Residents spent just as much time questioning whether the energy companies could work together to reduce the amount of noise and fumes coming from the plants.

Atmos officials took notes of when and where residents complained of the fumes, to look for possible small leaks. They also said the bright lights were an easy fix.

The noise would be tougher, however. Baldwin said the company hired a noise consultant. Atmos hopes to bring results and recommendations to DISH’s January meeting. With the information, the company can reduce the sound produced by its two 3,250-horsepower engines.

Bobby Bankhead, of Energy Transfer, said his company is planning to build two 1,500-horsepower engines and already ordered the best sound absorption equipment they could. He also said the company would cooperate with the study. But neither said they could speak for Enbridge Gas. That company also has two compressors in operation on Strader Road and, like Atmos and Energy Transfer, has room for more, according to the mayor.

Roger Melton said he couldn’t understand why the station was so close to existing homes and ranches.

“Why can’t you put these out somewhere else?” he asked. Johnson said that compressor stations need to be near where different-sized collection pipes join.

Bankhead said his company knew from a study by Dallas-Fort Worth area property appraisers that such facilities have an adverse affect on property values. He said Energy Transfer was willing to pledge to the same noise standards Fort Worth has in order to be a good neighbor.

Residents challenged Atmos to do the same; and then challenged both Atmos and Energy Transfer representatives to get Enbridge, Chief and J-W Operating to match the pledge.

Even though DISH has no zoning authority over the stations, Merritt said he was willing to take them at their word, at least for now.

“They should grant the residents of DISH the same courtesy as those in Fort Worth,” Merritt said. “I expect them to make good on their promise.”

Town Commissioner Calvin Tillman said he’d heard from many other residents who are worried about their quality of life and the value of their homes.

“Are you sacrificing our community?” he asked, and then told the two company’s representatives that he was willing to take the concerns to state regulators if they were not addressed.

PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE can be reached at 940-566-6881. Her e-mail address is pheinkel-wolfe@dentonrc.com .