Politics & Government

Collier Approves Marcellus Shale Ordinance

Conditional-use permit sets restrictions on natural gas drilling

Collier Township upgraded its natural gas drilling ordinance Wednesday night after hearing feedback from residents for months on both sides of the issue.

The commissioners voted 5-0 to enhance their Marcellus Shale ordinance that would push drillers farther away from schools and provide baseline measurements for noise levels at drilling sites.

Nearly 30 people attended and nine residents offered opinions about what restrictions should be placed on drilling to banning the industry altogether.

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Among the changes added in recent months, drillers would not be permitted within 1,000 feet of a school property line. It would also set guidelines on noise levels at a drill site during certain hours and give the zoning officer more ability to enforce the rules.

Moreover, emergency responders would be notified when a drilling operation is coming to the area and given funds to train in case of an emergency. There are also plans in place for wastewater removal and permit fees.

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“In my view, we have a balanced ordinance,” Commissioner Bob Schuler said.

The commissioners have been working on the ordinance for some time, and used feedback from the community and previous suggestions from environmental regulators to write this ordinance.

Doreen Ducsay said drilling should be allowed, but she had particular concerns about the proximity to the high school and primary school off Thoms Run Road. She also pointed to special areas around Settlers Park, the Montour Trail and botanical gardens that could be subject for drilling

“This didn’t happen haphazardly,” Ducsay said about the zoning map. “There was a reason and a plan for those areas.”

But Gail Neustadt argued that an outright ban on drilling should be considered to protect Collier citizens. She said the enhanced ordinance could also be passed only if drilling companies successfully fight a ban.

“I don’t think it belongs in residential areas, period,” Neustadt said.

But Kevin Smay, president of the township’s planning board, said a ban would not be feasible because the courts would immediately dismiss it. He praised the commissioners for strengthening the drilling ordinance and doing their best to protect the citizens.

“There will be a continued need for vigilance,” Smay said.

Nicholas Morelli, the business manager for Chartiers Valley School District asked the commissioners to push the barrier between a drill site and the schools beyond the 1,000-foot proposal. He said the district is concerned about the number of heavy-duty trucks rolling past the primary school on Thoms Run Road.

“When you’re drilling, you’re going to be taking water in and out and we have people around (the schools) all the time,” Morellis said.

Superintendent Brian White Jr. sent a letter to the commissioners asking for the barrier to be increased to 4,000 feet.

Commissioner Tim Young asked if that barrier would be feasible, which solicitor Chuck Means said would probably be challenged in court. The board agreed that a 1,000-foot barrier from any public or private school’s property line would be adequate protection.

Commissioner Kay Downey-Clarke said she was more concerned about the ramifications of having no conditional-use ordinance than banning it all together.

“If you don’t have (an ordinance), then you’re allowed to do it,” she said.


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