Feb 24, 2016 3 min read

A Washington County judge Wednesday signed off on two consent agreements that end the dispute between South Strabane Township and Range Resources over drilling at the Baumel and Zediker Station West well sites.

Each of the agreements signed by Washington County Judge Gary Gilman stipulates 40-plus conditions for Range Resources to drill for natural gas.

“I feel it is a good compromise,” Jack Keisling, chairman of the South Strabane Township supervisors, said Wednesday. “The gas company got something, and the township benefited.”

Township solicitor Jack Cambest said the agreements address multiple concerns of the supervisors, including locations of the wells, truck traffic on township roads and the presence of bunkhouses or trailers for company workers during drilling operations that are expected to last 18 weeks.

The conditions stipulate gas wells will not be within 1,000 feet of homes near the Baumel site. And wells won’t be within 1,500 feet from homes and 2,000 feet from public parks at the Zediker Station site.

The agreement also addresses the route Range Resources vehicles will take to get to the Zediker site, another concern of the supervisors, Cambest said.

Under the conditions, Range Resources will use Route 136 to Mitchell Road to bring in material and equipment to construct and operate the well site. Also, Range Resources is permitted to use Zediker Station Road to Rankin Road and to Mitchell Road as an alternative route if Route 136 to Mitchell Road can’t accommodate oversized materials and equipment. Range Resources will be required to provide advance notice to the township if it plans to use the alternative route.

“Gas companies need to pay attention to the wishes of the township as to what roads they take,” Keisling said.

Keisling said he is pleased with the portion of the agreement that includes Range Resources making improvements to Mitchell Road.

The agreement stipulates the improvements could include widening, upgrading base and topcoat construction and resurfacing “to the extent necessary to support well site construction and operations” on the portion of the road the company would use to access the Zediker well site.

Both agreements also permit Range Resources to have bunkhouses or trailers on-site for employees during the 18-week drilling periods. Workers are not permitted to stay on-site on their days off.

Cambest said the trailers primarily would be used for workers to rest during long shifts.

Range Resources officials said they are pleased with the agreements.

“This is another good moment for those who share our desire to responsibly develop clean-burning natural gas in Washington County and South Strabane Township,” said company spokesman Matt Pitzarella. “The agreement was reached through positive input from residents and thoughtful consideration of the board. Our goal is to have good relationships in the communities where we work, and we’ll continue doing so as we move forward with these locations in a manner that meets the needs of the surrounding neighbors which will support local jobs, generate royalties for landowners and significant impact fees for the township.”

Township supervisors on Feb. 11 approved the agreements. Range Resources on Dec. 16 and 30 appealed the supervisors’ denial of conditional-use applications for both the Zediker Station West gas well site on Mitchell Road and the Baumel well pad site on Kopper Kettle Road.

The agreements also contain conditions on lighting, sound, signs and security at the drilling sites.