Municipal News

Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 September 2015 15:13

By J.R. Brower

Excessive noise from the Harbison property natural gas drilling site on Cooper Road operated by EQT has come to the attention of the Nottingham Township Board of Supervisors.

At the board’s September 19 meeting, two township residents complained about the well pad, where drillers have been doing hydraulic fracturing (fracking) throughout the night on a continuing basis for over a month.

Sue Ryaby of Little Mingo Road, who lives right over the hill from the site, said that the noise has been considerably loud especially at night and has affected both her and her neighbors. Ron Ramsey of Kings Lane, told the board that he has been bothered by the noise as well. He also complained about excessive truck traffic on Sugar Run Road, which is the route used to service the well pad.

The site itself consists of multiple wells and was the first Marcellus Shale gas to be drilled in Nottingham Township in 2011. It was originally developed by Chesapeake Energy, which sold the site in recent years to EQT.

Supervisor Doug King said that other residents have called the township as well complaining about excessive noise at the Harbison site. He said he has contacted officials at EQT about the noise problem, and they have indicated that they are willing to make efforts to remedy the situation.

King said he and Zoning Officer Lee Shafer recently tested noise levels on property close to the Harbison site, and they measured 50 decibels. The township’s gas drill ordinances states that decibel levels are not to exceed 55 decibels. He said that they will continue to monitor the noise levels and follow up with EQT, whom King says has been very cooperative. He added that the company plans to continue fracking at the site until November.

In other business, the Board of Supervisors:
 Approved the minimum municipal obligation for the township pension plan for the year 2016 in the amount of $43,156.
 Held a public hearing and approved the Peddling and Solicitation Ordinance, which requires door-to-door solicitors to register with the township and obtain background check permits through the state police. After submitting profile information on themselves and their businesses, they will be issued special badges that they must present to residents. Hours will be limited to 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with no solicitation permitted on Sunday. The ordinances state that amounts for solicitation application fees will be set by the Board of Supervisors.
 Held a public hearing and approved an amendment to the township Floodplain Ordinance, which changed the size limitation on accessory structures from 600 square feet to 200 square feet.
 Acknowledged receipt of certified notification from Rice Energy of their intent to drill and operate an unconventional well with a coal module attachment. The document contained 10 well location plats for the well, named the Shotski site located in Somerset Township.