Extension granted to Cecil
CECIL – At 7:30 p.m. Monday, a Cecil Township compressor station appeared to be a foregone conclusion. By 9:30 p.m., many residents breathed a sigh of relief as they were granted at least a temporary stay.
Christopher L. Rimkus, managing counsel for MarkWest, who proposed the construction of a natural gas compressor station in the township in November 2010, let the zoning hearing board off the hook by granting them a 30-day extension to grant a special exception.
After the state Supreme Court’s refusal to hear an appeal in April, the zoning board was prepared to grant the exception.
“Be advised, we do have a court order saying we must grant this,” said chairman George Augustine at the onset of the meeting. “It’s over.”
After almost five years of lawsuits and court hearings, it did appear to be over for those who vehemently oppose the construction of the facility. The extension by MarkWest likely will not prevent the compressor station from being built, but will give the board more time to compile a list of terms and conditions.
The board denied MarkWest’s request in March 2011, saying it was not in the same character as other permitted uses in Cecil’s light industrial district.
MarkWest filed an appeal in April 2011. Washington County Court affirmed the zoning hearing board’s decision in January 2013.
MarkWest and Range Resources, acting as property owner or tenant, again appealed, which led to the September 2014 Commonwealth Court decision that stated the board erred in its denial.
The board wrote the facility would cause carcinogenic materials and other hazards to be expelled into the air, “creating a greater hazard than the emissions from the manufacturing uses permitted by right in the I-1 District.”
In the Commonwealth Court decision, Judge Anne E. Covey wrote MarkWest provided documentation indicating the DEP found the facility was “unlikely to trigger air-related health issues.”
Many of the approximately 100 residents in attendance Monday were skeptical the plant would not give off harmful emissions. Other concerns included proximity to Cecil Intermediate School, noise, truck traffic and decreased property values.
Jonathan Kamin, an attorney representing about six Cecil residents, outlined 25 conditions he and his clients believe should be placed on the facility, including electric engines, air and water studies and a noise limit.
“This is your one chance to get it right,” he said to the board.
Board attorney Jeffrey D. Ries stressed to residents the board can only impose conditions that are compliant with the township’s unified development ordinance and that were originally discussed during the three public hearings held in 2011.
The site of the proposed facility, which would include up to eight engines and sound structures, piping, dehydration facilities, tanks and a vapor recovery unit, is located about a half-mile north of the intersection of Route 980 and Route 50.
“Hopefully, MarkWest will do the right thing to minimize their impact,” said Kamin after the extension was granted.
A zoning hearing board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 15.