Apr 19, 2016 3 min read

Calling a proposed oil and gas drilling ordinance exclusory, pre-emptive and overly restrictive, representatives of Columbia Midstream Services, Range Resources and Rice Energy urged South Strabane supervisors Tuesday to consider the desires of township residents.

“Show respect for these people,” said Jennifer M. Cloonan, Range director of local government affairs. “Keep the conversation going forward.”

Residents crowded South Strabane fire hall on Oak Springs Road for a public hearing on an amendment to the township’s zoning provisions for oil and gas development.

The two areas addressed by the energy companies and many residents who opposed the amendment were the restrictions to drilling in all but industrial-zoned areas and set-back requirements.

“The zoning district limitations and setback restrictions effectively exclude oil and gas development in the township,” read a letter from Cloonan to the board.

Supervisors have been working with solicitor Jack Cambest, attorney John Smith and consultant Carolyn Yagle on the ordinance, changing several recommendations from their planning commission.

In February, supervisors Jack Keisling, Bob Weber and Thomas Moore recommended deep-well drilling as a conditional use only in I-1 and I-2 industrial areas, and shallow drilling in industrial and A-1 agricultural areas.

They also recommended electric motors for compressor stations and well pad sites and minimum setback requirements of 1,800 feet from residences, retail stores and restaurants, and 2,500 feet from schools and parks.

Representatives from the companies and several residents said if the ordinance were to pass, gas development would be restricted to less than one percent of the township.

Yagle said she did not yet have the percent figured out.

Resident Rich Luketich said Tuesday he and several others were prepared to sue the supervisors both individually and as a group if the ordinance passed.

“You are taking the value from our property,” said Luketich, who was met with applause.

Fred Pozzuto, chairman of the township’s planning commission, said he is personally disappointed with the supervisor’s ordinance because of the changes made from the commission’s ordinance.

He said the commission decided to allow drilling in the R-2 residential areas because many properties there have more than 100 acres. He said the group spent a lot of time monitoring activity at the township’s current well pad sites to reach their conclusion.

“(The decision) was based on science, not on some kind of bogeyman reason we heard over and over,” Pozzuto said. “I have a clear conscience.”

Joe Kopko, a planning commission member who opposes drilling in residential districts, echoed the sentiment of several residents who said they have concerns about environmental impact of the industry.

“We’re not here to make sure everybody gets gas royalties. We’re here to ensure the quality of life in South Strabane,” Kopko said. “The short-term gain will be far outweighed by the loss of quality of life going forward.”

A curative amendment, approved in September, that put a moratorium on approval of gas company applications for new permits expired, said Cambest. Any applications to the township at this point would have to meet the pending ordinance.

At the conclusion of public testimony, the board decided to continue the hearing to their April 27 meeting.