Jan 7, 2015 3 min read

South Strabane supervisors are preparing to amend a portion of the township’s outdated oil and gas ordinance as some residents are raising questions over whether one supervisor will benefit from the changes.

The amendments do not specifically address deep well Marcellus Shale drilling, but could still impact auxiliary components associated with the industry. The proposed changes would set conditions on where in the township water impoundments, compressor stations and natural gas processing facilities could be built.

The township’s planning commission last month approved the updates to the ordinance last month, which now must be ratified by the board of supervisors. A public hearing to discuss the ordinance is set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, and the supervisors could vote on an updated ordinance after hearing comments from residents.

But some of those township residents are questioning the proposed changes to the ordinance and claimed the planning commission did not allow the public to attend some agenda meetings late last year when the issue was discussed.

Judi Panasik said they are especially concerned that one of the board members, Laynee Zipko, who is also a township supervisor, might benefit from some of the changes with potential drilling on her family’s sprawling Berry Road property. The family’s property is zoned R-2, which is the only residential subsection that is not being removed as potential drilling zones.

“They’ve had public meetings, but our concerns are that she and her family have a huge stake whether this goes through,” Panasik said.

Zipko could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

However, a fellow planning commission member, Paula Phillis, denied the changes are tailored for Zipko’s property.

“Everyone has their own opinions of what is going on and not everyone’s opinion is correct,” Phillis said. “What is being discussed isn’t being done for any one specific resident. It’s being done for the betterment of all of the residents of the township.”

She added the proposed changes being considered address only auxiliary infrastructure that does not include deep well drilling. Water impoundments, compressor stations and processing facilities would be permitted only in industrial zoned properties.

The changes would permit shallow drilling in R-2 districts, along with some agricultural, commercial and industrial districts. Phillis said they do not expect shallow well drilling in the township, but officials needed to address it to update the ordinance.

The township has been working to update its ordinance for the past year after the state Supreme Court overruled the local zoning provisions of the Act 13 drilling law originally passed in early 2012. That ruling in December 2013 gave local zoning control back to municipalities, prompting South Strabane to reconsider its ordinance.

Township officials said they expect to review deep well drilling at a later date.