Residents and environmental advocates in Arlington, Texas, are raising alarms over new fracking projects near schools and neighborhoods, citing potential air pollution and public health risks as French energy giant TotalEnergies expands its drilling operations in the Barnett Shale. The company has received permits to add new gas wells at sites as close as a third of a mile away from several primary and secondary schools, reigniting a fierce debate over urban drilling and environmental justice.
The new drilling comes as part of TotalEnergies' broader expansion in the region. In January 2025, the Arlington City Council unanimously approved a permit allowing the company to install 10 new gas wells in East Arlington, which has a heavy concentration of Black and Latinx residents. Named Maverick, the new site lies near three schools — Johns Elementary, Adams Elementary and Thornton Elementary — and is about 1,000 feet from Mother's Heart daycare, while another four-well pad already operates roughly 600 feet from the school.
Health Concerns and Scientific Evidence
Arlington has the highest rate of childhood asthma in the state of Texas, with one in four children suffering from the condition. More than 30,000 Arlington children attend public school within half a mile of gas wells, and the city permits fracking operations as close as 300 feet to homes, daycares, medical offices and schools.
Health experts have long warned about the potential dangers of living near fracking sites. A 2022 Yale University study found that children born within 1.2 miles of fracking operations in Pennsylvania were two to three times more likely to develop acute lymphoblastic leukemia. While no causal link has been officially established between fracking and specific health harms, campaigners point to mounting research suggesting connections to preterm births, congenital anomalies, lung diseases and childhood cancers.
Environmental Justice and Community Opposition
Community groups argue that these projects disproportionately affect communities of color and low-income neighborhoods. 'The city of Arlington permits fracking operations as close as 300 feet to homes, daycares, medical offices, and schools,' said Ranjana Bhandari, who leads community group Liveable Arlington, which lobbied the City Council to turn down the latest permit near the schools. 'Pollution from fracking operations creates multiple health crises for residents while accelerating climate breakdown.'
Arlington is home to 52 gas well sites and hundreds of wellheads, many of which are owned by TotalEnergies. The company extracts methane gas in Arlington for export to France and other European countries where fracking is banned. Critics say this export-driven model prioritizes profits over the health and safety of local communities.
TotalEnergies' Response and Regulatory Backdrop
TotalEnergies has rejected claims that its operations harm nearby communities and says it remains committed to reducing methane emissions. The company has also emphasized that it is meeting regulatory requirements and following all applicable laws. However, environmental groups have documented 85 methane pollution events at TotalEnergies E&P Barnett USA sites over a six-month period.
Texas policymakers have lauded the activity as a boon to local communities, with the industry generating $2.48 billion in state tax revenue in 2025. But for Arlington residents living in the shadow of the gas wells, the economic benefits come at a steep cost. 'I can't project and trace what all is going to affect him and all those that live around there and all those that are around these sites,' said Ingrid Kelley, 69, whose 4-year-old grandson attends Mother's Heart Learning Center.
The expansion in Arlington reflects a broader push to increase domestic fossil fuel production under the 'drill, baby, drill' agenda, even as communities on the front lines of extraction raise urgent concerns about the health and safety of their children. With the new wells now moving forward, activists say the fight is far from over.
