Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Presenter:
Trey Vick
Action
Granting of Pipeline Easement – Parker County
Approximately 0.1 Acre at Lake Mineral Wells State Park Trailway
May 22, 2019
I. Executive Summary: Oneok Corporation requests that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) grant an easement to directionally drill a twenty-four-inch natural gas line under the Lake Mineral Wells State Park Trailway in Parker County.
II. Discussion: Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway consists of 3,280 acres located on Rock Creek, a large tributary of the Brazos River. The Trailway travels 20 miles from the town of Weatherford to the downtown district of Mineral Wells, crossing both Parker and Palo Pinto counties. The Trailway was once part of the Texas and Pacific Railway, a line that carried thousands of people to the city of Mineral Wells in the early 1900s for the town’s “healing waters” and resort climate. The line was abandoned and purchased by the city of Mineral Wells in 1989 and conveyed to TPWD in 1996. The Lake Mineral Wells Trailway was opened on National Trails Day, June 6, 1998, as part of the 75th anniversary of the State Parks System.
III. Recommendation: The staff recommends that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:
“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts the Resolution attached as
Exhibit A.”
Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit A
A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Regarding the
Granting of a Pipeline Easement of Approximately 0.1 Acre in Parker County
Resolution
Whereas, In the 1980s, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) acquired an abandoned railway in Palo Pinto Counties for use as a public trailway (the Land); and,
Whereas, The Land, also known as Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway, stretches from the city of Weatherford to the city of Mineral Wells; and,
Whereas, Oneok Corporation (Oneok) desires to acquire an easement to install a twenty-four inch natural gas pipeline under the Land (Easement); and,
Whereas, the pipeline will be bored under the Land with no surface impact; and,
Whereas, Oneok will compensate TPWD for damages and use of the Land consistent with rates established in the current TPWD Damage and Fee Schedule; and,
Whereas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission finds that as required by Texas Parks and Wildlife Code chapter 26, notices of today’s hearing of this matter were published at least once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation which is published at least six days a week in the community nearest to the Land in which such newspapers are published (Fort Worth Star-Telegram in Tarrant County), with the last day of publication being not less than one week or more than two weeks before the date of today’s hearing and that such notices specified the date and time at which the Commission would hear testimony regarding the proposed disposition; and,
Whereas, the Commission finds, in accordance with Texas Parks and Wildlife Code chapter 26, that (1) there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use or taking of land (Easement); and (2) the program or project that requires the use or taking of land (Easement) includes all reasonable planning to minimize harm to the Land; and,
Whereas, the Commission finds, in accordance with Section 11.301 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, that conveyance of the Easement subject to conditions that will minimize the overall impacts of the Easement on the Land is in the best interest of TPWD; and,
Now, therefore, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the Executive Director to negotiate terms and conditions under which an Easement may be granted and to grant an Easement to Oneok for the purposes and subject to the conditions described herein and in the motion approved in this Resolution.
Adopted and approved this 22th day of May, 2019.
Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit B
Location Map for Lake Mineral Wells State Park and Trailway in Palo Pinto and Parker Counties
Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit C
Vicinity Map for Lake Mineral Wells State Park (SP) and Trailway, 9 Miles East of Mineral Wells
Commission Agenda Item No. 9
Exhibit D
Site Map Showing Easement Location
