PennDOT: Roads Used By Drillers in Better Shape
Wheeling Intelligencer
24 September 2011
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) - Fewer Pennsylvania roads used by heavy
vehicles tied to the Marcellus Shale need major repair this year
because the state and natural gas industry are working closer
together to keep an eye on the roadways, a state transportation
official said.
PennDOT deputy secretary Scott Christie said 10 miles of roads
have major damage at least partially caused by trucks working with
companies drilling into the lucrative Marcellus Shale, down from
about 400 miles across the commonwealth last year.
Christie's comments were made Thursday at an event called
Transportation Safety Day sponsored by an industry group, the
Marcellus Shale Coalition.
The industry has spent more than $400 million fixing Pennsylvania
roads, and that operators are much more prepared going into the
winter season, organization president Kathryn Klaber
"We're going into this winter season much more prepared, and
that's in large part due to greater collaboration between
(PennDOT) districts and our own operators," Klaber said.
The event was aimed mainly to educate carriers and truck drivers
supporting the natural gas industry about Pennsylvania's
regulations, and improve safe operating practices.
A review of inspections performed by state police on commercial
motor vehicles used in support of Marcellus Shale gas drilling
operations in 2010 revealed 56 percent resulted in either the
vehicle or driver being placed out of service for serious safety
violations.
Heavier enforcement has dropped the noncompliance rate to about 45
percent in the most recent study, but state trooper Matthew Knock
said that's still too high. Knock performs inspections on gas
industry-related vehicles in Bradford County.
Dean Riland, safety director for the Pennsylvania Motor Truck
Association, said his industry is being given a bad name by a few
bad actors who had gained a large amount of work in the Marcellus
by spending less on safety and underbidding the competition.