No Compressor Station Decision Yet

Close to 40 residents gathered at the municipal building Monday night in anticipation of a decision from the township's zoning hearing board in regarding a special exception application by MarkWest Liberty Midstream and Resources, only to quickly learn no such rendering would be on tap for the evening.

Chairman George Augustine called the meeting to order only to quickly adjourn it, explaining to the roomful of residents and MarkWest representatives that an executive session with solicitor Patricia McGrail was needed to discuss the applicant's responses to a list of 37 conditions submitted by the board.

The board received the response Friday.

— a subject for which there was so much public testimony that the meeting was continued three times to allow for that input.

Of the 37 conditions set forth by Cecil's zoning hearing board, MarkWest agreed to three: to install video surveillance monitoring equipment at the site for security purposes, to provide training and site orientation to township first responders at MarkWest's expense, and to provide the municipality with a copy of emergency procedure plans.

The other conditions all included suggested modifications by the oil and gas drilling company.

MarkWest rejected a board condition that would limit the number of compressors to no more than five, and require that they all be electric. In the three prior meetings held regarding the proposal, representatives from MarkWest have expressed plans for up to eight compressors, with some or all being gas powered.

In their formal written response to this condition, MarkWest indicates this condition cannot be met because Allegheny Power has not committed to providing the necessary electrical supply. It also suggests the township was over overstepping its authority on the matter.

“Air emissions are regulated by (the state Department of Environmental Protection) and the projected emissions from the compressor engines are well below state and federal minor source permit limits. This condition is an attempt by the Township to improperly dictate MarkWest's business operations,” the document reads.

Although several residents expressed their anger at the quick nature of the public meeting, the board continued the meeting to 7:30 p.m. March 30 — when Augustine said a decision would be rendered.

That date still meets the requirement for the board to make the decision within 45 days from the end of testimony regarding to the compressor station proposal. That testimony concluded Feb. 21.

A complete list of conditions from the zoning hearing board and MarkWest's response is available online here.

In other news pertaining to Marcellus Shale, the township board of supervisors also met Monday to discuss moving forward with a public meeting to further consider altering the current township oil and gas drilling ordinance.

Supervisors are contemplating change it from being a permitted use to a conditional one. This change would require drillers to get approval from the township prior to drilling a new well.

This public hearing has been scheduled for 6:30 p.m. April 21.