Judge allows South Fayette drilling hearing tonight
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An Allegheny County judge today denied a motion to halt a hearing on natural gas drilling set to be held tonight by the South Fayette zoning hearing board.
The township commissioners filed a motion for a preliminary injunction late last week alleging that two of the three zoning board members scheduled to hear the challenge by Range Resources had conflicts of interest because they have leases with the company. Another man, who serves as an alternate, works for EQT Corp, a Downtown energy firm.
In a four word, hand-written decision filed on the original motion, however, Common Pleas Judge Robert J. Colville gave no explanation for his answer and wrote only, "The motion is denied."
Jonathan Kamin had asked Judge Colville to remove the two members with perceived conflicts and allow the commissioners to appoint new people who do not have ties to drilling companies.
Zoning board solicitor Thomas Ayoob argued that the members should be permitted to hear the challenge, and if the commissioners were displeased by its conclusion, they could properly appeal in Common Pleas court.
The hearing on Range Resources' appeal of the local ordinance is scheduled to be held tonight at 7 p.m. Earlier this week, Mr. Kamin said he expected it to be held over a period of several days.
First Published November 9, 2011 3:05 pm
