Commission Agenda Item 7
May 22, 2025

• Item Type: Action
• Presenter: Whitney Gann, Ph.D.

Lease of Land – Anderson County – Approximately 543 Acres at the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area

I. Executive Summary:

Staff seeks approval to lease approximately 543 acres of land at the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area (WMA) to store and retrieve natural gas from a geological formation under the WMA.

II. Discussion:

The Gus Engeling WMA is located in northwest Anderson County. This 10,958-acre area was purchased under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act using Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program funds. The WMA’s primary purpose is to function as a wildlife research and demonstration area for the Post Oak Savannah Ecoregion.

Trinity Gas, LLC, requests a lease of several tracts that total approximately 543 acres to store and retrieve natural gas from underground. The location for the natural gas injection and retrieval site is on an adjacent property, so there would be no impacts to the surface of the WMA from the natural gas storage activities. Minimal ingress or egress would be needed on the WMA for the life of the storage lease.

III. Recommendation:

Staff recommends that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopt the following motion:

“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to grant an approximate 543-acre lease at the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area.”

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Exhibit A – Commission Agenda Item No. 7

A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Regarding the Granting of an Easement Covering Approximately 543 Acres of Real Property in Anderson County for Storage and Retrieval of Natural Gas from a Geological Formation under the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area 

Resolution

      Whereas, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) owns and operates Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area (WMA) for a variety of recreation, research, and conservation values; and,

      Whereas, Trinity Gas, LLC, is seeking to establish a 543-acre lease; and,

      Whereas, the lease agreement will also include Surface Use Agreement terms to allow for periodic gas-leak detection; and,

      Whereas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (Commission) finds that as required by Texas Parks and Wildlife Code (PWC) 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 communities nearest to the WMA in which such newspaper is published (Dallas Morning News), 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,

      Whereas, the Commission finds, in accordance with PWC chapter 26, that (1) there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use of the WMA; and (2) the program or project that requires the Lease includes all reasonable planning to minimize harm to the land; and

      Whereas, the Commission finds that the grant of a Lease subject to conditions that will minimize harm to the WMA is in accordance with PWC sections 11.071 and 11.301; and,

      Now, therefore, the Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to negotiate terms and conditions under which a Lease may be granted, and to grant a Lease to Trinity Gas, LLC, for the purposes and subject to the conditions described herein and in the motion approving this Resolution.

      Adopted and approved this 22nd day of May 2025.

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Exhibit B – Commission Agenda Item No. 7

Location Map for Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
Anderson County

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Exhibit C – Commission Agenda Item No. 7

Location Map for Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
Anderson County

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Exhibit D – Commission Agenda Item No. 7

Site Map of Proposed Lease
Gus Engeling WMA Outlined in Red
Subject Tracts Outlined in Yellow