Cecil Considers Drilling Ordinance


Washington PA Observer Reporter
17 December 2009
By Brad Hundt, Staff writer
bhundt@observer-reporter.com

CECIL - With natural gas drillers surveying Washington County like gold-rush prospectors, Cecil Township is continuing to shape an ordinance that would regulate drilling in that area.

On Monday night, Cecil's board of supervisors had another public hearing on a proposed ordinance on oil and gas drilling that would govern the amount of noise that can be generated, dust control, safety fencing, warning signs and other parts of the process.

If it's approved, Cecil Township would be the first municipality in Washington County to have an oil and gas drilling ordinance.

John M. Smith, the township's solicitor, said the ordinance would "permit drilling and minimize the impact of drilling" and "protect the individuals who live around it."

Other parts of the ordinance would assure that fire and rescue personnel have the proper training to deal with accidents, control lighting around drilling sites, make sure nearby residents are informed about drilling, limit hours of operation from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and limit the amount of exhaust coming from engines or compressors.

Much of the public hearing was taken up with discussion of noise and health concerns. Kenneth Komoroski, a Pittsburgh attorney representing Range Resources, which has been aggressively drilling for natural gas throughout the county, said the proposed noise limitations were more appropriate to an urban rather than rural setting.

"A one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work," he said.

It's likely the proposed ordinance will be subject to additional tinkering before it comes up for a vote by the board.

Resident Deborah Lee expressed worries about the potential health impact of natural gas drilling, particularly the amount of benzene, a potentially cancer-causing toxin, that's been detected near some sites. Supervisor Phyllis Zaccarino understood her concerns, pointing out that "you don't want to create a situation like Love Canal, where, 10 years later, everyone is getting chemotherapy based on a poor decision we made."

However, resident Mary Dalbo said the board was "nitpicking" with the proposed ordinance, saying that drillers like Range Resources "don't need our foolishness."

Looking toward representatives of Range Resources, Dalbo said, "I think yinz are doing a wonderful job."