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."