Shale gas drilling approved beneath ACORD park
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Despite the overwhelming opposition of more than two dozen residents, the Avonworth Municipal Authority tonight gave the go-ahead for Marcellus Shale gas drilling beneath park property along Camp Horne Road.
The authority members, in a 3-2 vote, gave Energy US, which is based Downtown, a five-year lease for drilling rights in the 119-acre ACORD Community Park in Kilbuck and Ohio Township.
The lease still must be approved by four of the five communities that make up the Avonworth Municipal Authority. The Ohio Township council approved the lease at its Monday meeting. The remaining borough meetings will be Tuesday for Ben Avon Heights, Wednesday for Emsworth, April 19 for Ben Avon and April 26 for Kilbuck.
One resident who said he had been involved in gas drilling for years urged the board to take the offer of $2,500 an acre and potential bonuses for production. But all the other speakers were opposed.
While many of the residents voiced concern over the effect of drilling on water quality and property values, others who spoke at the public hearing expressed shock at the manner in which the lease was handled.
Authority board Chairman Ed Gould told board members in an email dated April 1 that Energy US presented him with the lease March 30 and gave him a March 31 deadline to sign it, which he did with the understanding that the lease would be void if it was rejected by the board or by two of the five communities involved.
"I'm deeply concerned about this process," said Alexander Nalevanko, a member of the Emsworth Council, who called for the lease to be rejected. "Mr. Gould, I believe you have overstepped your authority. I remind the board members that you serve at the pleasure of the communities that put you here. And you can be removed. This is a community park and nothing more. "This is a terrible mistake."
First Published April 7, 2011 12:16 pm
