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10/31/2009 3:33 AM

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By Christie Campbell, Staff Writer, chriscam@observer-reporter.com

This article has been read 1110 times.

HICKORY - As more and more natural gas drilling and processing takes place in Mt. Pleasant Township, residents are seeking added local regulation of the industry.

Residents attending a township board of supervisors meeting Wednesday asked about zoning changes that would limit where such activity could take place and safeguard people's lives by protecting the water and air.

Mt. Pleasant Township is considering amending its zoning ordinance to permit such facilities as gas processing stations to operate as a conditional use. Currently, there are no provisions in the zoning code for them.

Township solicitor William Johnson noted a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision allows townships to dictate where the oil and gas industry can operate, but it is the state Department of Environmental Protection that permits and monitors it.

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Johnson said the zoning changes address residents' concerns because if gas facilities are considered as a conditional use they first must be reviewed by the planning commission and approved by the supervisors.

"Right now the zoning doesn't provide for it anywhere, which makes it open to legal challenge," he said.

Several residents suggested supervisors communicate with elected officials in other townships where drilling is taking place, such as Cecil and Robinson townships.

"I think the decisions that you make are going to change this community on your watch 15 to 20 years down the road," said Bonnie Yello, of Walnut Road.

And Paul Battista, of Johnson Road, said even if they were unable to stop drilling, measures could be taken to ensure it was done in a responsible manner.

The township was apparently misled when construction began on a processing station by Atlas Energy in March in an agricultural zone. Supervisors were under the impression it was to be a compressor station.

In June, the station was taken over by Williams Gas, headquartered in Tulsa, Okla. Williams Gas is now seeking to have the area rezoned and has presented a proposed amendment to Mt. Pleasant which will first be reviewed by the township and county's planning commissions.

Raj Basi, an environmental attorney with Williams, said Atlas was wrong when it failed to come before the township prior to construction but Williams Gas is trying to rectify those mistakes.

"As soon as we inherited that plant we shut it down," he said, noting that safety measures were enacted and the company is trying to address residents' concerns.

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3 comments

Gas Wells : 10/31/2009
Just another bully tactnic by Atlas they should be made to tear ti down

BH

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Shocking : 10/31/2009
I can't believe they just didn't blame a school board here either

TOL

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Shocking : 11/3/2009
that's funny

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