Fayette County Commissioners voted to adopt the zoning amendment to limit injection well sites during a zoning hearing.
The ordinance states that “Class I-IV Injection Wells shall require a Special Exception within the M-1 Light Industrial, & M-2 Heavy Industrial zoning districts.”
While this is not a total ban on injection wells, it is progress toward heavy restrictions on their development.
This move comes after G2 STEM LLC submitted an application for an injection well in Nicholson Township last July.
The permit was to dispose of fluids associated with oil and gas production into the Balltown Sandstone Formation about 3,400 feet underground.
Mountain Watershed Association and other like-minded groups quickly organized with Nicholson Township community members, township supervisors, Fayette County Commissioners, and State Rep. Charity Grimm Krupa (R-Fayette) to submit their concerns about the well to the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Issues raised included heavy metals, carcinogenic man-made chemicals, and radioactive materials present in fracking wastewater, quality of life impacts due to heavy industrial truck traffic, and the likelihood of water contamination in public and private water supplies due in part to the unique geography and industrial legacy of Nicholson Township.
After this robust community response, G2 STEM withdrew the application in early August.
The unanimous vote from the commissioners comes after the draft amendment was tabled at their January meeting.
Upon the motion to table the progress, MWA managing organizer, Stacey Magda provided public comment suggesting increasing the draft setback distance from 500 feet to 2,500 feet.
The suggestion was heard and the approved zoning language includes that increased distance.
During the hearing several Fayette County residents, including Nicholson Township Supervisor Rick Jarrett, provided comments in favor of the amendment.
Also in attendance were representatives from Food and Water Watch, Protect PT, and Three River Waterkeeper, all who have supported Fayette County with resources to understand injection wells.
“We’ve all been working diligently as a board of commissioners to prevent this [wastewater injection wells] from happening. We’re against this,” Fayette County Commissioner Vince Vicites said in August. “It goes against long-term growth and development.”
“This is not only a critical step toward protecting Fayette County from injection wells, but one hundred percent the result of local advocacy from residents passionate about their community,” said James Cato, Regional Organizer with MWA. “When the first injection well was proposed in Fayette County last year, the community pushed back and the company withdrew. Our elected officials listened and now our community is more protected from similar proposals in the future.”
"Today, Fayette County chose progress. Our Commissioners worked together and chose to vote in favor of this common-sense zoning amendment," said Stacey Magda, MWA managing organizer. "Not only is this a win for this area, but it paves a path to show that progress is possible across the Commonwealth and beyond.”
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[Posted: March 22, 2024] PA Environment Digest
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