S. Strabane to settle with Range on well pads
The site of Range Resources’ Baumel pad on Kopper Kettle Road in South Strabane Township
Natalie Reid Miller/Observer-Reporter South Strabane Township supervisors Laynee Zipko and Robert Weber listen to Chairman Jack Keisling during Tuesday night's township meeting.
South Strabane Township supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to enter into a settlement with Range Resources after both sides agreed to conditions to be placed on the Zediker Station West gas well site on Mitchell Road and the Baumel well pad site on Kopper Kettle Road.
Range Resources filed lawsuits against the township in Washington County Court on Dec. 16 and 30, appealing the denial of both conditional-use applications.
Range cited a section of the Municipal Planning Code stating when supervisors fail to hold a required hearing within 60 days of receiving an application, “the decision shall be deemed to have been rendered in favor of the applicant.”
During a special meeting Jan. 7, supervisors reversed their previous denial and approved the Zediker application, but added four conditions.
Township solicitor Jack Cambest said he couldn’t release details of the agreement until supervisors officially signed court documents. However, he did mention three conditions officials previously debated with Range: a sound-barrier wall, the proposed route of well traffic and overnight accommodations for workers.
“The agreement encompasses most of the conditions we’ve imposed. We tried to keep the intent,” Cambest said. “We believe we came to a great compromise.”
Cambest said he expects information to be released to the public within the week.
“We appreciate the thoughtfulness of the board and the input from the residents,” said Matt Pitzarella, Range spokesman, in a statement. “Our goal is to have positive working relationships in the places where we work, while providing benefits for those communities, and this is one such example. Our pledge is to continue with this approach as we move forward with these projects, which in time will generate royalty income for residents, impact fee tax revenues for the township, and in a manner that meets the needs of the surrounding neighbors.”
In related business, supervisors discussed the curative amendment, approved in September, that puts a moratorium on approval of gas companies’ applications for new permits while the township works to address deficiencies in their gas and oil drilling ordinance.
The current ordinance allows drilling as a conditional use in all districts.
While no formal vote was taken, supervisors recommended deep-well drilling as a conditional use only in industrial (I-1 and I-2) areas, and shallow drilling in industrial and agricultural (A-1) areas.
“It seems to me deep well and shallow well drilling should be a use by right in an industrial area,” said Supervisor Edward Mazur, who, along with Supervisor Laynee Zipko, did not recommend the change.
Mazur and Zipko asked that supervisors consider rezoning the township to be more representative of usage. Mazur said there are many areas zoned residential in which very few houses exist.
Supervisor Thomas Moore said the township has ample areas for development.
“I think it’s fair to restrict drilling to industrial areas,” he said.
Supervisors also recommended electric motors for compressor stations and well pad sites located a minimum of 1,800 feet from residences, retail stores and restaurants, and 2,500 feet from schools and parks.
“You can’t put regulations on something that make it exclusionary. That’s what you’re doing,” Mazur said.
Moore, Jack Keisling and Robert Weber approved hiring attorney John Smith to assist Cambest and consultant Carolyn Yagle with the ordinance at a rate of $225 an hour. Smith represented Cecil and Robinson townships in a lawsuit that overturned parts of Act 13, the state’s oil and gas drilling law, in 2013.
“Mr. Smith has a reputation for being anti-drilling,” said Zipko, who voted against his hiring with Mazur.
The next supervisors meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 23.