Since you seem to be tongue-tied, let me help. Let's hope these new minority contractors don't windlup like the last minority contractors DFW tried to help:

"International Terminal D opened at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport last July...

The project was... a chance for the world’s third-busiest airport to shine by cutting in minority- and women-owned contractors for a bigger share than ever of one of the richest construction pies in North Texas.

Instead, the project ended up as one of DFW’s worst construction headaches — a multi-million-dollar mess that has spawned bankruptcy filings, bitter disputes over fault, a spate of lawsuits in which the airport has — thus far — paid out millions of dollars in judgments, and a deep well of bad feelings in the North Texas construction industry... Ironically, the project that was expected to bring a lot of much-needed income to the coffers of minority- and women-owned contractors instead drove some of those companies and others out of business or right to the brink."

You can read the complete story here:
http://www.fwweekly.com/content.asp?article=3847

Like so many other government do-good efforts, the end result is often to leave the intended beneficiaries worse off than they were before Big Brother stepped in to help.

As far as the risk of all those gas pipelines running under one of the world's busiest airports. Don't worry. It's my understanding that the city councils of Dallas and Fort Worth are going to pass ordinances prohibiting the pipelines from rupturing.

...the city councils of Dallas and Fort Worth are going to pass ordinances prohibiting the pipelines from rupturing.

Heh.

Re: the Minority/Women Owned Business mandate...I'd be more worried about this except that Chespeake has enough experience drilling on tribal lands to know how to work with agency-mandated "help."

Of course, Barrett Shale drilling isn't just for North Texas. It's also out in the western sections of the Permian Basin (and you don't have the Dallas or Fort Worth city councils to worry about).

John, that's right, although it's a bit less accessible and prolific than its north Texas counterpart. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it quite a bit deeper in west Texas?

Yup.

I assume that:

"Pursuant to the terms of the bid requirements, approximately 20% of the lease will be owned by various Minority and Women Businesses (M/WBE) that will participate with Chesapeake in the development of the lease."

Means that M/WBE will be a 20% working interest owner, whom they will have to receive partner approval on for most major decisions?

Sounds like a nightmare.