TT:Benton approves gas well but requires independent monitor
BENTON TWP. - Township supervisors granted approval for an exploratory natural gas well on Monday with the novel condition that a township engineer must be allowed on site to monitor the drilling.
The supervisors voted 2-0 to allow Southwestern Energy Production Co. to drill a Marcellus Shale test well in a field off Route 407 with 18 conditions, including the monitoring requirement.
Board Chairman Larry Seymour said that although state law precludes the township from regulating oil and gas activities already policed by the Department of Environmental Protection, the township wants to protect itself from environmental damage.
As a condition of the approval, the engineer will monitor the site and report any problems or concerns to state regulators. Any costs associated with the monitoring will be paid by Southwestern.
"The monitoring function is not regulatory; it's informative," Mr. Seymour said. "We want to make sure that we provide DEP with the information needed to minimize the possibility of a problem."
Similar positions are allowed by law in municipalities that host landfills, township solicitor David J. Gromelski said.
Other conditions of the approval require the driller to share emergency response plans with the Fleetville Volunteer Fire Company; take daily noise readings and use hospital-grade mufflers on its rig engines; put diffusers on its lights and direct them downward; and keep trucks from driving through Fleetville Corners at the intersection of Routes 407 and 107.
Southwestern's asset manager for the Appalachian region and an attorney for the company could not be reached for comment after the meeting Monday night.
Mr. Seymour said that based on feedback he has received from Southwestern, he has the impression the driller will comply with the conditions.
The vote Monday came after the township held two, often heated conditional use hearings and an informational meeting for residents.
Mr. Seymour was the only supervisor without a stated conflict of interest in the application because he does not have a gas lease near the proposed well. Supervisor David Grunza cast the necessary second vote after first abstaining. Supervisor Bonnie Rosiak, whose property abuts the farm where the well will be drilled, abstained from voting.
Tom Curra, president of the Baylor's Lake Association, which objected to Southwestern's application, said he expected the township to approve the application "although we were hoping that maybe there would be a twist in our direction."
"The big question now is will Southwestern appeal the condition for the engineer," he said, adding that he salutes the supervisors for developing the position.
"I think it's a good idea to have someone representing the township being a watchdog," he said.
