Nov 6, 2015 4 min read

South Strabane Township Planning Commission on Thursday approved an amendment to a prior conditional use approval for Range Resources that will permit temporary trailers on the Baumel well pad site on Kopper Kettle Road.

The planning commission also approved a conditional use application for Range Resources for the Zediker Station West development and gas well site on Mitchell Road.

The Baumel amendment, if approved by the board of supervisors, will allow Range Resources to install four trailer-style “bunkhouses” to house 11 employees – including a well foreman and other personnel the company considers essential – during the drilling phase.

The planning commission recommended limiting that operation to 18 weeks, and will require Range to apply for an extension if drilling is not completed during that period.

The planning commission approved the trailers by a 3-2 vote. In favor were Paula Phillis, chairman Fred Pozzuto and Laynee Zipko, Opposed were Bob Weber and Joseph Kopko. Tom Steele abstained.

Kopko questioned the benefits of housing Range employees at the site, noting bunkhouses are not located on all well sites and saying the request does not comply with the intent of the township’s ordinance.

“You’re asking us to open a door to do this on every well site in our township. The way this has come about, I don’t like it. Range came in here and accepted a condition that it wouldn’t be done that way, and Range wants to do it now, Nobody here from Range has given me any kind of a concrete reason why it should be done this way,” said Kopko. “I don’t care how nice your facilities look on these sites, I don’t care how well-kept they are. They are not compliant with the intent of our ordinance.”

Max Junker, an attorney with Babst Calland who spoke on behalf of Range, said bunkhouses are used at other drilling sites across the country, and housing employees at the Baumel site is the best way for the company to drill safely and efficiently.

Range Resources spokesman Matt Pitzarella said Friday essential personnel are kept on site for safety reasons.

“It is a 24-hour operation. The primary reason we have them there is for safety purposes,” said Pitzarella. “It’s purely for back-up purposes in the unlikely event there’s an incident or an issue, then there’s adequate backup. The same goes for if there’s severe weather and operations have to cease. You have additional workers who can catch up if they’re slowed.”

Company officials said there is no financial benefit to placing the bunkhouse trailers at well sites.

Pozzuto said the term “bunkhouse” is a misnomer and implies camp-like conditions; instead, he said, the trailers are work stations that also house computers and other equipment.

Several people who attended the meeting voiced support of the amendment to Range’s prior conditional use approval and to the conditional use application.

Andrea Hunt said, “I see the positive side of it. We need revenue in this township. Range is very responsible … the long-term gains are way, way above the temporary inconvenience.” Businessman John Diamond, a home builder, said, “If not for Range and other gas companies, my business would be slower.”

A few of the residents at the meeting spoke in opposition of Range’s conditional use applications. One resident listed several concerns regarding the gas industry, including health and safety issues, and said he believed “there’s an inclination to help the gas company rather than protect the residents.”

In a letter to planning commission members, township resident Dennis Makel, an attorney, wrote Thursday he is opposed to the bunkhouses for several reasons, noting he believes the workers who will remain on the site would provide an economic impact to area hotels and campsites.

He also wrote he is “aware of some municipalities that permit bunkhouses; I would opine that most municipalities are not in favor of the same. I have the understanding that representations have been made that Canton Township and Hanover Township permit bunkhouses. I am unaware of the same in my position as Solicitor thereof.”

The board of supervisors will consider both items – approval of the conditional use application and the amendment to the conditional use approval regarding the Baumel site – at its Nov. 24 meeting.