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Chesapeake Energy Becoming Active in Union Township
By Paul Chasko
Several items on the agenda for the January 10 Union Township (UT) meeting were indicative of the beginning of gas well drilling activity in Union Township by Chesapeake Energy.
The UT Board scheduled a Conditional Use Hearing for Chesapeake on January 24 at 7:00 pm and they also announced Chesapeake’s request for a modification to Drilling Pad A on the Trax Farm property where they’re preparing a cleared pad for drilling into the Marcellus shale deposits for natural gas. In addition, UT has received notification from the DEP that Chesapeake has made application to pump water from the Monongahela River at Courtney to be used in their drilling operations in the area. It was unclear at the meeting if their intent was to use trucks to move the water to a drilling site or to run water lines through UT. To date, no applications for permits for piping right-of-ways have been made to UT by Chesapeake so the assumption is that they intend to move the water using tanker trucks.
All Supervisors were present at the January 10 meeting as was the Solicitor, Secretary/Treasurer, the UT Engineer and the Zoning and Code Enforcement Officers. Minutes were reviewed and approved by the board for three prior meetings held – December 13, December 27 and January 3. All ordinances have been re-enacted and the 2011 budget has been adopted without an increase in UT taxes.
A letter was received from the Washington County Planning Commission requesting that UT re-issue a grading permit for the preparation of a nursery business (Union Gardens) on McChain Road. The owner and contractor have been notified that they have exceeded the scope of the existing permit. The owner will issue a revised plan.
In Other Business:
• Payrolls #26 ($7,551.78) and #27 ($200.00) for 2010 were approved for payment.
• Payroll #1 ($8,076.44) for 2011 was approved for payment
• General Fund bills presented as of January 10, 2011 ($58,018.88) were approved for payment.
• A Chesapeake Energy Conditional Use Application Hearing was set for January 24 at 7:00 pm. A major modification (storm water discharge) to Trax Farm Pad A is requested.
• A new DEP regulation change was announced – An NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit is now required for any planned excavation if one or more acres will be disturbed. The old requirement was 5 or more acres.
• A Seismic Testing Ordinance is under review by the Supervisors. Its approval was held in abeyance until reviews are complete.
• PNC Bank has requested a meeting with the Supervisors to present investment options for the Police Pension Fund.
• The UT Engineer will present the Union Valley Storm Water Management Grant Request.
• A quote for security cameras for the UT buildings is under review – cost is approximately $9,225.
• A roller/compactor for road patching needs replaced. The estimated cost is $44,000. A quote will be reviewed at the February meeting.
• The UT board selected C & C Auditors to perform the 2010 audit for a cost not to exceed $7,325.
• A few street names within UT have names somewhat different from the tax maps – street names being used by Emergency Mgt. Systems will be checked.
• A Powell property subdivision was approved.
• UT must have an individual trained in the handling of underground storage tank problems.
• PAWC plans to replace an existing 2 inch water line in the Boyka plan with a new 8 inch line.
• The Solicitor held a 1 hour executive session to discuss litigation and personnel issues.
• The road department reported that about 400tons of road salt will be in stock with the next delivery.
• Two new UT trucks are being fitted with stainless steel bed liners.
• Road damage caused by Morgan Excavating will be inspected in March or April.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 03 February 2011 12:20 |
