May 24, 2017 3 min read

A natural gas processor is once again pursuing plans to build a cryogenic operation in Smith Township after putting its plans for the facility on hold for more than a year.

MarkWest Energy representatives attended a workshop of the township planning commission Monday to discuss land-consolidation and conditional-use applications the company submitted to the township as part of its plans to build on about 130 acres the company owns between Point Pleasant and Creek roads.

The commission is expected to consider whether to recommend supervisors approve the plans at its regular June 12 meeting. Much of the discussion Monday was procedural as Veronica Bennett, of township engineers the Harshman Group, went over questions she had after reviewing MarkWest’s applications.

Plans the company submitted to the township include two proposed de-ethanizers and four cryogenic plants. Rob McHale, northeast environmental director for MarkWest, said in an email following the meeting the plans give the company room to add additional processing capacity at the facility, known as the Harmon Creek plant, beyond what it plans to build initially.

“Upon receiving all requisite approvals, MarkWest will construct one cryogenic plant and one de-ethanizer,” he said. “Additional processing capacity on the Harmon Creek plant site may be added as producer volumes dictate.”

McHale said the facility would create 25 full-time jobs.

The company initially applied to build the facility, originally calling the Fox Complex, in 2015 before putting plans on indefinite hold early last year. Township solicitor Gary Sweat attributed that decision to market conditions at the time.

Meanwhile, Energy Transfer Co. has begun building the Revolution cryogenic plant on nearby property, and township officials discussed complaints about heavy traffic near the site that people who live nearby raised during a township meeting earlier this month.

Among those at the meeting was Lisa Graves-Marcucci, state community outreach coordinator for the Environmental Integrity Project, who brought copies of an email from a state Department of Environmental Protection official confirming the company hasn’t applied for an air-quality permit from the state.

The township isn’t responsible for enforcing environmental regulations, but Graves-Marcucci asserted information the company would provide the state still matters locally.

“The local community has a right to see exactly what you’re going to build – how big it is, how many engines … how many pipelines,” Graves-Marcucci said. “You’re basically asking these good people to make a decision sight unseen.”

McHale told officials MarkWest anticipates submitting an application for a general permit, or GP-5 – which covers midstream natural gas gathering, processing and compression facilities deemed minor air contamination sources – by the middle of next week.

McHale said after the meeting the company “can’t so much as set up a foundation for a potential air-pollution source” without having the air-quality permit.

“It’s nothing we’ve taken for granted,” he said. “It’s a matter of course. These things are on their timelines, and we’re working the timelines.”

The DEP issued a notice of violation against MarkWest in November 2015 after construction began at the Cibus compressor station before it received the GP-5 for the site from the state.