Tuesday, September 17, 2024

Cecil Township, Washington County Posts Proposed Ordinance Increasing Setbacks From Shale Gas Well Pads Of 2,500 Feet From Homes, Businesses; 5,000 Feet From Schools, Hospitals; Nov. 4 Hearing, Meeting Set

 Cecil Township, Washington County
has posted a proposed ordinance for consideration at a  November 4 supervisors meeting establishing setbacks from shale gas well pads of 2,500 feet from homes and businesses as “protected structures” and 5,000 feet from schools and hospitals.

The proposed 25-page ordinance also gives property owners the ability to waive the setback, however, all property owners within the 2,500 or 5,000 foot setbacks must agree to a waiver.

The setbacks for schools and hospitals cannot be waived under the proposed ordinance.

Well pads must also be located not less than 1,000 feet from any residential lot line.

The proposed ordinance is being posted as a follow-up to a series of four public hearings held by the Township on the issue of regulating shale gas well pads, the most recent of which was on September 4.  Read more here.

Environmental Impact Analysis

The proposed ordinance also includes provisions requiring an environmental impact analysis to “describe, identify and analyze all environmental aspects of the site and of neighboring properties that may be affected by the proposed  operations or the ultimate use proposed to be conducted on the site.” 

“The environmental impact study shall include, but not be limited to, all Critical Impact Areas on- or off-site that may be impacted by the proposed or ultimate use of the facility, including the impact on the critical areas, the protective measures and procedures to protect the critical areas from damages, and the actions to be taken to minimize environmental damages to the critical areas on the site and surrounding areas during and after completion of the operation.” 

Critical impact areas are defined as: “Those areas which may be more susceptible to damage as a result of the proposed or ultimate use of the facility, including, without limitation: stream corridors; streams; wetlands; slopes in excess of twenty-five percent; sites where there is a history of adverse subsurface conditions or where available soils information or other geotechnical data, including data from the Bureau of Mines, indicates the potential for landslides, subsidence or other subsurface hazards; Class I agricultural lands; highly acidic or erodible soils; carbonate or highly fractured bedrock; aquifer recharge and discharge areas; areas of unique or protected vegetation, wildlife habitat, and areas of historic, cultural and/or archaeological significance.”

“The limits of the impact area to be studied shall be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors.” 

Other provisions require an air quality study and monitoring; a hydrologic study to identify any potential impacts to groundwater or aquifers and testing of all water supplies within 1,000 feet of the proposed well pad; pre- and post-development soil testing; limits on ambient noise levels; and regulation of lighting at the drill site.

A water withdrawal plan, waste disposal plan, a plan for the transmission of gas from the development, “to the extent the same is not otherwise included or provided with copies of applications for permits from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania” is also required.

Regulation Of Related Oil & Gas Development Facilities

The proposed ordinance also sets requirements for other oil and gas development facilities “which employ the use of compressors, motors or engines as part of the operations and/or produce air-contaminant emissions or offensive odors, subsurface facilities, including horizontal drilling facilities, gathering system facilities and production facilities.” 

Oil and gas development is defined as “well site preparation, well site construction, drilling, Hydraulic Fracturing, and/or site restoration associated with an Oil and Gas well of any depth; water and other fluid storage, impoundment and transportation used for such activities; the installation and use of all associated equipment, including tanks, meters and other equipment and structures, whether permanent or temporary; and the site preparation, construction, installation, maintenance and repair of Oil and Gas Pipelines and associated equipment and other equipment and activities associated with the exploration for, production and transportation of Oil and Gas.”

These facilities are subject to the same 2,500 and 5,000 foot setback requirements.

It does not include natural gas compressor stations or natural gas processing plants, which the ordinance says are regulated by the Township’s subdivision, land development and zoning ordinance.

Click Here for a copy of the proposed ordinance and a separate proposed ordinance repealing the Township’s existing oil and gas regulation ordinance.

Hearing/Meeting

The Cecil Township supervisors will hold a hearing on the proposed ordinance November 4 starting at 6:00 p.m.

The supervisors have a regular meeting scheduled for that same day at 7:00 p.m. where a vote on the ordinance is anticipated.

The hearing and meeting will be held at the Cecil Township Municipal Building, 3599 Millers Run Road in Cecil.

(Photos: top- Range Resources Augustine Drill Pad in Cecil Township; Augustine Drill Pad showing scale of operation;  bottom- Map of Shale gas wells (red dots), conventional oil and gas wells (blue/green dots) in Cecil Township (DEP Oil & Gas Program); 523 feet from nearest house; Well pad gas flare from bedroom window near Augustine well pad (WTAE). Other photos Courtesy of The Energy Age Blog.)

Resource Link:

-- Cecil Township Supervisors Direct Solicitor To Prepare Ordinance Increasing Setbacks From Shale Gas Well Pads By At Least 2,500 Feet; Another Hearing, Vote Expected Nov. 4   [PaEN] 

NewsClips - Cecil Township/Washington County:

-- The Energy Age Blog: Fracking In Cecil Township, Washington County [3.26.24]

-- The Energy Age Blog: Right To A Healthy Life For Babies Near Fracking - Testimony of Dr. Ned Ketyer At Sept. 4, 2024 Cecil Township Hearing

-- The Energy Age Blog: Fracking: Have A Heart For Seniors In Pennsylvania - Medical Evidence Of Fracking Harm from Sept. 4, 2024 Cecil Township Hearing

-- Center For Coalfield Justice Hosts Sept. 24 Program In Washington County On Increasing Setbacks From Oil & Gas Infrastructure  [PaEN]

-- Landmark Washington County Act 13 PA Supreme Court Case Upholding Right Of Municipalities To Regulate Oil & Gas Drilling As A Land Use

Resource Links - Increasing Gas Infrastructure Safety Zones:

-- Senators Santarsiero, Comitta Introduce SB 581 Increasing Setback Safety Zones From Natural Gas Drilling Sites, Other Infrastructure, Based On Latest Science  [PaEN] 

-- House Committee Hearing On Increasing Safety Setback Zones Around Natural Gas Facilities Heard About First-Hand Citizen Experiences On Health Impacts; From Physicians On Health Studies; The Gas Industry On Job Impacts [PaEN] 

-- Sen. Yaw, Republican Chair Of Senate Environmental Committee, Called Bill To Reduce Shale Gas Industry Impacts On Health, Environment ‘Stupid’ [PaEN]

Resource Links - Washington County Gas Development:

-- Click Here to search for Washington County articles in PA Environment Digest.  These are just a few--

Resource Links: Gas Health, Safety Impacts Washington County:

-- Hundreds Of Residents Warn Against Impacts Of Shale Gas Development In Cecil Township, Washington County   [PaEN]

-- New Reporting On The Uncontrolled Impacts Of Shale Gas Industry: The ‘Poisons Are Still Going Through My System;’ Roar, Fire From Gas Flares; Nothing Has Changed In 15 Years   [PaEN]

-- Shale Gas & Public Health Conference: When It Started, It Was Kind Of Nice, But What  Happened Afterwards Really Kind Of Devastated Our Community  [Marianna Boro, Washington County]   [PaEN]

-- Inside Climate News: Q/A With Eliza Griswold Pulitzer Winning Author Of Deep Dive Into Fracking In PA, How Extractive Industries ‘Gut’ Communities [Including Washington County]   [PaEN]

-- Center For Coalfield Justice Hosts Aug. 20 In-Person Program On Investigations Into Rare Childhood Cancers In Washington County   [PaEN]

-- Range Resources Wins Water Well Contamination Case, But Court Says Actions Reckless In Washington County   [PaEN]

-- 3 Days That Shook Washington County: Natural Gas Plant Explosion; Pipeline Leak Of 1.1 Million Cubic Feet Of Gas; 10,000 Gallon Spill At Compressor Station   [PaEN]

-- Observer-Reporter: Explosion, Fire At Energy Transfer’s Revolution Natural Gas Cryogenic -- Plant Burned For Nearly 11 Hours On Christmas Day In Smith Twp., Washington County   [PaEN]

-- DEP Ongoing Explosion/Fire Investigation: Energy Transfer Reported An Uncontrolled Release Of Ethane For 9.5 Hours From Its Revolution Natural Gas Processing Plant In Washington County   [PaEN]

-- Inside Climate News: DEP Took 9 Days To Inspect Natural Gas Liquids Plant That Caught Fire On Christmas Day In Washington County   [PaEN]

-- Guest Essay: Counties, PEMA Need To Include A Complete Vulnerability Assessment Of All Natural Gas Facilities In State, County Hazard Mitigation Emergency Plans   [PaEN]

-- Attorney General Shapiro: Range Resources Pleads No Contest To Negligent Oversight Of Natural Gas Well Sites In Washington County; To Pay $150,000 In Penalties, Contributions   [PaEN]

-- DEP Fines Range Resources $198,920 For Air Quality Violations In Washington County   [PaEN]

-- Washington County Family Lawsuit Alleges Shale Gas Company Violated The Terms Of Their Lease By Endangering Their Health, Contaminating Their Water Supply And Not Protecting Their Land   [PaEN]

-- Environmental Hearing Board Will Hear Key Arguments On Appeal By A Washington County Family Alleging Shale Gas Drilling Contaminated Their Water Supply With PFAS And Other Chemicals   [PaEN]

-- DEP: Widespread Presence Of PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Fresh Water May Have Led To ‘Inadvertently’ Using Contaminated Water For Fracking Gas Wells In Washington County   [PaEN]

-- Range Resources Shale Gas Water Pipeline Suffers Blowout In Washington County   [PaEN]

-- KDKA Investigation: Washington County Family Says Energy Transfer/MarkWest Natural Gas Processing Plants Turned A Peaceful Farm Into A Nightmare   [PaEN]

Penalties + Criminal Charges - Washington County:

-- Natural Gas Pipeline Pigging Facility Malfunction Dec. 27 Released 1.1 Million Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas; Same Facility Plagued Community With Blowdowns 3 Times A Day, 7 Days A Week For Nearly 10 Years Until Criminal Charges Brought Against CNX  [PaEN]

-- Attorney General Henry Files Charges Against Shell Falcon Pipeline For Failure To Report Drilling Issues That Caused Industrial Waste, Potential for Water Pollution  [PaEN]

-- DEP: Shell, Pipeline Contractor Assessed $670,000 Penalty For Falcon Ethane Pipeline Construction Violations In Allegheny, Beaver, Washington Counties  [PaEN]

-- DEP Settlements Impose Total Of $427,650 In Penalties On EQM For Pipeline Construction Violations in Greene, Washington, Westmoreland Counties  [PaEN]

-- DEP: CNX Gas Pays $310,000 Penalty For Violations During, After Pipeline Construction In Washington County  [PaEN]

-- DEP Settlement With CNX For E&S Violations In Greene, Washington Counties Yields $180,000 Streambank, Fish Habitat Project  [PaEN]

-- AG Shapiro: Southeast Directional Drilling Pleads Guilty To Contaminating Water Supply In Washington County, To Pay $15,000 Fine  [PaEN]

-- AG Shapiro Charges National Fuel Gas Supply, Subcontractor With Environmental Crimes Related To Pipeline Construction In Washington County  [PaEN]

-- DEP Orders Energy Transfer To Restore Waterways Impacted During Construction Of Revolution Pipeline In 4 Counties  [PaEN]

-- DEP Rejects MarkWest Act 2 Cleanup Notification For 10,000 Gallon Natural Gas Condensate Spill At Compressor Station In Robinson Twp., Washington County, Notice Is Re-sent  [PaEN]

-- Robinson Twp., Washington County Seeks Answers To Cleanup Of MarkWest Liberty Midstream 10,000 Gallon Spill Of Natural Gas Condensates After Company Sends Notice To Wrong Municipality  [PaEN]

-- MarkWest Liberty Midstream Files To Clean Up 10,000 Gallon Natural Gas Condensate Spill Caused By December’s Winter Storm Elliot Freeze In Washington County  [PaEN]

-- DEP Issues Violation To CNX Gas Company For Withdrawing Over 1.8 Million Gallons Of Water For Fracking For 22 Days Without Permission  [PaEN]

-- PUC Approves 2 Penalty Settlements With Columbia Gas Totaling $1.525 Million For A House Explosion In Washington County, 2 Natural Gas Pipeline Over-Pressurization Incidents In Franklin, Clarion Counties  [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro, CNX Natural Gas Company Sign Statement Of Mutual Interests To Monitor Air Emissions At Drill Sites, Extend Safety Setbacks While Data Is Being Collected; DEP To Move Ahead With Some Reg Changes  [PaEN]

-- TribLive Editorial: Is Shapiro's Voluntary Agreement With CNX The Right Move For Gas Well Safety? 'We Do Not Trust Foxes To Guard Henhouses'   [PaEN]

Gas vs. Coal Development Impacts - Washington County

-- DEP Invites Comments On MarkWest Project To Expose 4 Natural Gas Pipelines For 5,500+ Feet Ahead Of Longwall Mining In Donegal Twp., Washington County

-- DEP Invites Comments On Proposed CNX Midstream Project To Expose Natural Gas, Water Pipelines To Prevent Longwall Mining Damage In Washington County

-- DEP Invites Comments On MarkWest Liberty Midstream Project To Expose 1 Mile+ Of 2 Natural Gas Pipelines To Prevent Longwall Coal Mining Damage In Washington County

-- DEP Reaches Settlement With CNX On Well Plugging Violations At 141 Conventional Coalbed Methane & Gas Wells, 5 Unconventional Gas Wells In 4 Southwest Counties

-- Center for Coalfield Justice Blog: Update On Underground Longwall Coal Mining In Greene, Washington Counties; Next DEP Report On Longwall Impacts Due… Soon  [PaEN]

-- Act 54 Report Again Finds 40% Of Streams Suffered Loss Of Flow, Pooling, Reduction In Biological Activity Due To Impacts From Underground Coal Mining  [PaEN]

More Articles:

Note: Click Here to search for Washington County articles in PA Environment Digest.

PA Oil & Gas Industry Public Notice Dashboards:

-- PA Oil & Gas Weekly Compliance Dashboard - Sept. 14 to 20 - Seeing Conventional Wastewater Spill From Google Earth; Emergency Well Plugging; Abandoned Shale Gas Wells; Leaking Gas Well Next To Baseball Field  [PaEN]

-- Homeowner Complaint Results In DEP Emergency Plugging Of A Penn Resources, Inc. Conventional Oil Well Leaking Gas, Oil, Wastewater In McKean County  [PaEN] 

-- DEP Discovers Wastewater Spill From Conventional Oil/Gas Well That Could Be Seen From Google Earth In Armstrong County As A Result Of A Complaint  [PaEN]

-- PA Oil & Gas Industrial Facilities: Permit Notices, Opportunities To Comment - September 21 [PaEN] 

-- DEP Posted 77 Pages Of Permit-Related Notices In September 21 PA Bulletin  [PaEN] 

Related Articles This Week - Gas:

-- Exploding Water Well Shed Triggers DEP Investigation Of 59+ Abandoned Conventional Oil & Gas Wells In Cyclone, McKean County; Highlights Limits On Providing Temporary Water For Well Owners Impacted  [PaEN] 

-- Cecil Township, Washington County Posts Proposed Ordinance Increasing Setbacks From Shale Gas Well Pads Of 2,500 Feet From Homes, Businesses; 5,000 Feet From Schools, Hospitals; Nov. 4 Hearing, Meeting Set  [PaEN]

-- Environmental Health Project: State Dept. Of Health Progress On Implementing Recommendations After Pitt Health Studies Show Impacts From Shale Gas Development ‘Extremely Limited’  [PaEN]

-- Protect PT: Westmoreland Landfill Surrenders Air Quality Permit For An Evaporator System To Dispose Of Leachate Wastewater Impacted By Shale Gas Drilling Waste  [PaEN] 

-- Del-Chesco United For Pipeline Safety: Texas Explosion Shows Communities In PA With Energy Transfer's Mariner East Pipeline And Other Pipelines Are Vulnerable To The Same Unmitigated Risk From Unsecured Pipeline Valves  [PaEN] 

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Approved, Renewed 24 Shale Gas Well Pad Water Use General Permits In August; 212 General Permits So Far In 2024  [PaEN]   

-- Allegheny Institute For Public Policy: Counties, Municipalities Need To ‘Begin Lowering Their Expectations’ On The Support From Shale Gas Industry Drilling Impact Fee  [PaEN] 

-- Utility Dive: North American Electric Reliability Corp Sounds Alarm Over Maintaining Sufficient Winter Natural Gas Supplies To Address Extreme Winter Conditions; PA Gas Producers Cutting Production, Pulling Drill Rigs  [PaEN] 

-- Baker Hughes: PA Natural Gas Drilling Rigs At 14, Same As Last Week - Down 33% Since Aug. 23 [Industry Efforts To Increase Natural Gas Prices Continue] 

NewsClips:

-- The Energy Age Blog: North Fayette Residents Raise Concerns About Proposed Range Resources Fracking Site In Allegheny County

-- KDKA: North Fayette Twp. Residents Raise Concerns About Proposed Range Resources Fracking Site In Allegheny County

-- The Allegheny Front - Reid Frazier: Scientists Skeptical Of CNX Claim Its Fracking ‘Poses No Public Health Risks’ 

-- TheDailyClimate.org: Residents Say Pennsylvania Has Failed Communities After State Studies Linked Shale Gas Fracking To Child Cancer

-- Inside Climate News - Kiley Bense: Eureka Resources Oil/Gas Wastewater Treatment Company Struggles Raise Questions About The Future Of Lithium Extraction From Oil/Gas Wastewater

-- Sierra Club Magazine: Plants & Goodwin Racing To Fix Pennsylvania’s Leaking Conventional Oil & Gas Wells 

-- Warren Times Editorial: There Isn’t Enough Money To Plug All Oil & Gas Wells Abandoned By Conventional Well Owners, Must Use Funds In A Cost-Effective Way 

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Peoples Natural Gas Customers To See 12% Rate Increase This Month, With More Increases On The Way 

-- The Energy Age Blog: Peoples Natural Gas Customers Will See 12% Rate Increase This Month - More Increases On The Way!

-- Reuters: EQT CEO Sees Natural Gas Prices Remaining Below $3/mmBtu; EQT Cut Gas Production By 1 Billion Cubic Feet Per Day To Try To Raise Prices

-- New York Times: Big Energy Issue In Pennsylvania Is Low Natural Gas Prices, Not Fracking; PA Has Gas Glut; Drillers Throttling Production  [PDF of Article

-- Bloomberg: AI Boom Is Driving A Surprise Resurgence Of US Gas-Fired Power Plants [Not In PA]

-- Food & Water Watch: Explosion Of Energy Transfer Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline In Texas Highlights Company’s Terrible Safety Record In Pennsylvania 

-- WFMJ/AP: Energy Transfer Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline Fire That Burned For 4 Days Now Out In Houston 

-- Bloomberg: Human Remains Found In Vehicle Involved In Energy Transfer Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline Fire In Houston

-- ABC27/AP: Energy Transfer Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline Fire Subsides, But Still Burns In Houston; Fire Severed Power Lines, Melted Nearby Playground Equipment 

-- Bloomberg: Energy Transfer Natural Gas Liquids Pipeline Fire Caused By An SUV Crashing Through A Fence And Knocking Off Aboveground Valve To Pipeline

[Posted: September 17, 2024]  PA Environment Digest

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