Aug 27, 2014 2 min read

Center Township and Geokinetics USA Inc. settled a federal lawsuit filed by the company in July challenging the township’s ordinance regulating seismic testing in the township.

The company, in a complaint filed in federal court in Pittsburgh, claimed the township adopted an ordinance in April that effectively prevented it from conducting seismic testing in the township.

Geokinetics asked the court to declare the township’s ordinance regulating seismic testing invalid, claiming the ordinance is preempted by the state Oil and Gas Act. The company further asked the court to declare it does not need the township’s approval to conduct seismic testing in the municipality.

Township supervisor Seann McCollum said Wednesday that the case had been settled and Geokinetics has agreed to comply with the township’s ordinance.

The ordinance primarily requires the company to file an application for a permit with the township and pay an application fee and bond township roads on which testing will be conducted, he said.

The supervisors had adopted the ordinance to protect its roads and the property of the township’s and its residents, he said. “Basically, (the ordinance) asks them to respect our community,” McCollum said.

The company has complied with the ordinance. In addition, the township has seen an improvement in communications with the company, receiving notices daily on where the company is working, he said.

A company representative could not be reached Wednesday afternoon for comment.