Town of Dish files lawsuit against six gas companies

Town of Dish files lawsuit against six gas companies by Craig Civale, March 1, 2011, WFAA
DISH, Texas- One town’s fight to prevent gas well drilling may now be heading to court. The Denton County town of Dish is suing gas companies over health and property concerns it blames on drilling. Dish’s mayor announced he was leaving because of growing health concerns for his family. Now the town has filed a lawsuit against six gas or pipeline companies who leaders blame for polluting its air and water. Dish is home to nearly 200 people, 60 gas wells and now a lawsuit to fight against the companies who put them in that area. The suit claims drilling has created “significant public health concerns…” and “deprivation of the enjoyment of their property…” which continue to lose value. “Frankly, we don’t have a choice, we had to do this, we don’t have an option,” said Charles Tillman, Dish Mayor. Tillman has been the face behind the fight. He said three weeks ago that monitors set up by the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality registered the highest benzene reading the town has ever seen. Tillman questions whether his family’s health issues are related to it. “If every nosebleed makes me wonder what am I exposing my child to, then how can I live like that?” Tillman said. … Atmos Energy is one of the six companies named in the lawsuit. A spokesperson for the company returned News 8’s call and said Atmos had no comment.