Township sets sight on action plan for drilling
Peters Township took a step closer toward revamping its zoning ordinance to allow natural gas drilling within its borders.
Tom Carey and Rocco Mangrino, both members of the township planning commission, agreed to join township council members David Ball, Robert Lewis and Monica Merrell on a committee to examine ways the ordinance can be changed to allow gas extraction.
“It will be a few months’ process,” Mangrino said during a township planning meeting Thursday. “Hopefully, I can be an asset.”
Because of changes in state law, Peters must eliminate its Mineral Extraction Overlay District, which would have allowed natural gas drilling in 15 areas of the township, all zoned residential. To date, no gas wells were drilled in Peters, but some property owners leased their land to gas companies – mostly Pittsburgh-based EQT – in anticipation of drilling activity.
Michael Silvestri, Peters Township manager, said the township is not working under a deadline to change its zoning, but the next step is for him to assemble an action plan and for council to hire a consultant, with an environmental background, to help the committee formulate a new policy.
“The action plan will give suggestions to council on how to proceed,” Silvestri said.
The problem the township faces is how it can allow drilling and still meet state law, especially when it comes to protecting the environment. Key environmental protections that the township added to its zoning include protection for fresh water, groundwater, as well as adding fresh water and groundwater impoundments. Also, any drilling pad must be 750 feet from protected structures.
Peters reserves the right to increase any setback based on the physical characteristics of the site and evidence received at a hearing necessitating an increase in minimum setback.
Peters held a hearing on its zoning changes last month that would permit drilling in industrial-zoned areas, which combine roughly 150 acres throughout the township. That hearing drew more than 100 people.
More public hearings are expected as discussions on the zoning changes move forward. A final vote has not been scheduled.