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Drilling debate continues in South Strabane

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The four-year process of updating South Strabane Township’s drilling ordinance continues.

During a public hearing Tuesday, the board of supervisors opted to extend testimony for a second time after comment from 18 residents, most of whom opposed drilling in the residential (R-2) zone.

Supervisor Edward Mazur made a motion to apply a Municipal Curative Amendment, declaring the township’s current gas and oil well zoning ordinance invalid. The amendment would have given the township 180 days to investigate and prepare an amended gas and oil well ordinance, which Mazur said would give officials time to look into possibly rezoning the township more appropriately.

The motion did not pass. Chairman John Keisling voted in favor, Vice Chairman Daniel Piatt voted against and supervisor Laynee Zipko abstained. Supervisor Robert Koman was absent.

The current ordinance allows drilling as a conditional use in all districts. Two active well pads in the township – Range Resources’ Baumel on Kopper Kettle Road and Rice Energy’s Waterboy on Rankin Road – are in an agricultural zone.

Many residents complained during previous meetings that ongoing issues with noise, light and air pollution at those sites were not resolved.

While other conditions are included in the proposed amendment, the decision to allow drilling in residential areas caused the most controversy, even among township officials. By a narrow 4-3 vote, the planning commission recommended during their May 7 meeting to allow residential drilling.

Planning commission members said it would be difficult to ban drilling in residential areas because some residents own more than 50 acres of land, which would be sufficient space without violating setback rules.

The proposed amendment includes increasing a setback distance from 300 feet to 1,000 feet, measured from the well head to any occupied structure. Some residents argued that distance is not great enough, while energy companies said it is too much.

No representatives of Rice Energy or Range Resources spoke during the meeting Tuesday, but both companies have previously questioned the legality of several conditions, including setbacks, a five-minute restriction on truck idling and prohibiting temporary housing for workers.

Joe Kopko said Tuesday he was one of the planning commission members who voted against allowing drilling in a residential zone.

“This is a boom. There will be a bust,” Kopko said of the gas industry.

He warned supervisors that permitting residential drilling would have long-lasting effects and asked what would happen to the township “when there is no longer drilling.”

Nancy Zipko, who owns a farm on Berry Road, was one of three residents who spoke out in support of residential drilling.

She admitted that, as a leaseholder, she had a vested interest in drilling. She said other townships have allowed drilling close to homes without negative effects.

“It has to be done in a safe way,” Zipko said. “I’m in favor of drilling.”

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