Mount Pleasant requires pre-approval for gas wells
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The Mount Pleasant Township Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance Wednesday that regulates gas drillers in their region, attempting to end a community-versus-industry debate not with the bang seen in previous public hearings but with the whimper of an everyday meeting of small-town officials.
Before roughly a dozen citizens and just moments after approval of the sale of a township dump truck, the four-person board unanimously adopted a 21-page conditional use ordinance that requires prior approval from the township's planning commission and board of supervisors for all new natural gas wells.
It was a low-key move in a raucous 21-month debate that saw the Washington County community's top driller, Range Resources, halt production on new wells in the township. Wednesday's vote appears to have done little to assuage Range, and spokesman Matt Pitzarella said the moratorium on new well sites will stay in place as the company reviews an ordinance that it says came as a surprise.
The board of supervisors and Range Resources met with a mediator judge at a Hilton hotel last month to discuss the details of disagreement. Range Resources was still expecting a summary from that mediation when it found out Tuesday that the ordinance would be coming to a vote the next day.
"It was our understanding that we were both going to respect the mediation process," Mr. Pitzarella said. "It's a little disheartening when they move forward with an ordinance."
At the township meeting, supervisors said they had sent ordinance language to Range Resources 30 days ago with several requests for comment but did not hear back from the company.
"All along, we have tried to work with them and they just don't seem to want to do it," said supervisor Larry Grimm.
The ordinance, which township supervisors said was modeled after others in the area, contains stipulations such as minimum requirements on the distance between gas compressor stations and schools (2,500 feet) or the specifics on drill-site fencing (at least 8 feet tall, in dark green or black steel wire).
First Published June 23, 2011 12:00 am
