Mar 24, 2015 2 min read

Peters Township Commission hired a Maryland hydrologist to help it determine where “unconventional” gas drilling can be done within the municipal borders.

“The board is getting an unbiased consultant,” said Commissioner Monica Merrell, who was part of the unanimous vote Monday to hire Keith Eschleman of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Appalachian Laboratory in Frostburg, Md. Eschelman’s contract with the township is $8,813.

Earlier this year, Peters formed a committee of township officials, along with commission and planning commission members, to explore the possibility of natural gas drilling in the township, and to examine the township zoning ordinance in order to decide what changes, if any, need to be made for gas extraction to take place.

Because of changes in state law, the township must get rid of its Mineral Extraction Overlay District, which would have allowed natural gas drilling in 15 areas of the township, all zoned residential.

Because Peters is a municipality that is highly developed, with numerous housing plans, it is not clear where drilling can take place.

Peters officials also are studying the township’s comprehensive plan to see what can be changed to accommodate natural gas drilling.

If a portion of the township is rezoned to allow drilling, then surrounding parcels must have a similar use.

A township commission workshop has been scheduled Monday to look at zoning options.

Eschelman’s areas of expertise are hydrology, watershed ecology, biogeochemistry of freshwater and groundwater, mathematical modeling of runoff and hydrological systems and freshwater wetland hydrology.

“He has no ties to any organization,” Merrell said.

To date, no natural gas drilling has taken place within Peters’ borders, but there is drilling under way in adjacent townships, including Nottingham and Union. Peters is in the process of surveying residents about drilling and whether they want it in the township.