Chartiers officials find noise violations at gas well pad
Chartiers Township officials issued a notice of violation to Range Resources after residents complained about noise from fracking at the Moritz well pad on Arthur Road.
The Moritz well site on Arthur Road has been the source of several noise complaints to Chartiers Township officials.
Chartiers Township officials issued a notice of violation Thursday to a natural gas driller after residents complained about noise from two wells being fracked in the township.
Township manager Jodi Noble said readings at the property line of Range Resources’ Moritz well site showed noise levels that violated the 60-decibel limit township supervisors imposed when they approved the well application.
“We will continue to monitor the noise and take any appropriate actions to make sure they bring it into compliance,” she said.
Noble attributed a drop in sound levels between Tuesday and Wednesday to measures she said the company has begun to take.
The township won’t fine the company unless it fails to bring the site into compliance with noise limits.
The township code officer measured noise levels at the Moritz well site on Arthur Road following several complaints from residents in the area. Fracking on the Bird Run site on Kings Road last month, which has since stopped, also prompted several noise complaints.
Stephen Plonski, 43, wasn’t among those who’ve complained to the township, but he has spoken directly to the company.
“There was one night in particular – the closest would be if there was a jet engine sitting outside my house,” said Plonski, who lives on Summit Court, about one-third mile from the Bird Run well.
Fracking at that well has since ceased, but his family can still hear the noise from the Moritz well pad across the valley from their home.
“We didn’t ask for any of this,” Plonski said. “We didn’t know this was going to happen.”
Range spokesman Mark Windle said in an email company “representatives have talked with nearby residents who have expressed concern. We understand and acknowledge the temporary inconveniences associated with our activity…In this case, we are currently installing additional sound mitigation efforts and will be monitoring levels from various locations in the area.”
Plonski said the company has been “very nice” and “very responsive” but he and some of his neighbors aren’t satisfied so far.
“Our position is Range decided that they wanted to engage in this activity in a residential area,” he said. “A good neighbor should do more than just say, ‘We regret the noise and it’ll be over soon,'” he said.
A few miles away, Linda Arthur, 72, lives across the road from the Moritz pad. She said the noise generally doesn’t bother her.
“It’s steady,” Arthur said. “There’s no big bangs, nothing that’s going to make you jump up in the air.”
Arthur has a lease with Range for her oil and gas rights, and said the company also paid her for nuisances related to operations before drilling began.
For her, the noise means one thing: “I hear money going in my cash register.”
Windle said the company provides that type of help “when our operations result in inconveniences, and consider a host of factors, including proximity, traffic patterns and duration.”
Plonski said his and his neighbors’ situation is different. Developer Maronda Homes retained oil and gas rights when it sold houses in the Summit plan.
“Is financial compensation the answer? No. I don’t know what it is,” he said. “It wouldn’t hurt. It would be something more than ‘It’ll be over soon.'”