Range Resources Withdraws 3 Well Pad Permits In Washington County

Range Resources Tuesday withdrew three conditional use permit applications for unconventional well pads in Mt. Pleasant Township, Washington County, the morning before another hearing was scheduled to consider the applications.

Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future has represented residents opposed to the pads, two of which would have been located within one mile of the Fort Cherry school campus in a residentially-zoned district.

JoAnne Wagner, an area resident and mother with children at the school, expressed relief at the company's decision.

"Gas drilling is a heavy industrial operation that does not belong everywhere in our township. It certainly doesn't belong near schools where our vulnerable children spend so much of their time," said Ms. Wagner. "As a mother and school board member, it keeps me awake at night thinking how we could possibly assure other parents that their children are safe, with drilling so nearby."

George Jugovic, Jr., PennFuture's chief counsel, emphasized that Mt. Pleasant Township faces the same challenge as many municipalities around Pennsylvania – how to strike a balance between shale gas development and protection of the environment and the public's health and safety.

"The Supreme Court has made clear that municipalities cannot allow non-conforming uses in residentially-zoned districts – and there can be no question that shale gas development is not a residential land use," Jugovic said.

"Mount Pleasant citizens got involved in the permitting process in order to exercise their constitutionally protected right to ensure their children will have clean air, land and water. Natural gas drilling, with the accompanying truck traffic and diesel generators, is an industrial activity that does not belong near their homes and schools," said John Norbeck, acting president and CEO of PennFuture.

Mt. Pleasant Township modified its land use ordinance to allow natural gas development across all zoned districts prior to enactment of the state natural gas law (Act 13). In the Robinson Township case, the Supreme Court struck down those portions of Act 13 that compelled local municipalities to allow natural gas development across all zoned districts. Mt. Pleasant Township is in the process of revising its land use ordinance.