Fort Worth expects a lawsuit over millions of dollars spent on oil spill cleanup
The city of Fort Worth is planning litigation related to the oil spill that contaminated a municipal water treatment plant last summer.
In May, a 16-inch pipeline owned by Dallas-based Energy Transfer broke and discharged 6,800 barrels of crude oil near Lake Arlington. Some of that oil entered a damaged sanitary sewer main and ended up in Fort Worth’s Village Creek Water Reclamation Facility, which discharges treated wastewater into the Trinity River.
According to contracts obtained by the Star-Telegram, Fort Worth authorized up to $5 million in emergency funds for the associated cleanup and repair costs.
When asked in July who would cover those costs —Fort Worth taxpayers or Energy Transfer — a water department spokesperson said, “Further coordination with Energy Transfer will occur.”
The spokesperson did not respond when asked in December if an agreement was reached with Energy Transfer.
The Star-Telegram obtained records from the city including contracts and invoices for oil spill remediation work, as well as records related to any agreements between Fort Worth and Energy Transfer to pay for those services.
The city provided the contracts but asked the Texas Attorney General’s Office to block the release of the other documents.
In a letter addressed to Attorney General Ken Paxton, a city lawyer said the records should be withheld because there’s a likelihood of litigation.
“The requested information relates to an incident in May 2025 involving the City’s water system,” the letter read. “The City took affirmative measures to protect the City’s water infrastructure. Once the full scope of the City’s costs related to these affirmative measures are known, the City intends to file suit against one or more parties to recover its costs.”
In September, the City Council adopted a resolution appointing Cantey Hanger as legal counsel in any lawsuit stemming from the oil spill. The estimated cost for those legal services is $250,000.
When asked if Energy Transfer would be a defendant in a potential lawsuit, a Fort Worth city attorney referred to the appointment of Cantey Hanger. At message left at the law firm was not immediately returned.