The mayor of Dallas has directed city council to form a Gas Drilling Task Force and appointed a former council member to lead the body.

The task force will be charged with making recommendations to city council on issues such as air emissions and water use and disposal related to gas drilling. Last week Mayor Dwaine Caraway and the city council were briefed on gas drilling issues faced by the city.

Caraway also named Lois Finkelman chair of the Gas Drilling Task Force.

“I can’t think of a more qualified person to head up this task force,” said Caraway. “Lois has a solid scientific and environmental background and is highly respected for her extensive civic work around the region. That will be critical for this task force because she understands that the concerns about gas drilling do not just stop at our city’s borders.”

Finkelman served four terms on the Dallas City Council (1997-2005) and chaired the council’s Environment Committee. While on the council she also served on the National League of Cities’ Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Steering Committee. Prior to her council tenure, she served three terms as resident of the Dallas Park Board. From 2007 through 2010 Finkelman served as the chair of the National Recreation and Park Association’s Board of Trustees and served as vice chair from 2004 through 2007.

Finkelman has served on the Clean Air Steering Committee of the North Texas Council of Governments and on the Executive Committee for Vision North Texas. Finkelman has master’s degrees in environmental science and in science education from the University of Texas.