Council favors drilling setback reduction
In front of a standingroom-only crowd on Wednesday night, Murrysville council voted to advertise an ordinance that will, if approved, require unconventional gas drillers to maintain a 750-foot setback between the edge of a well pad and any protected structure. The setback distance will include a 350foot zone around a protected structure in which no ancillary activity, such as access roads or detention ponds, will be permitted.
The 750-foot distance, which was approved 4-3, represents the latest revision to a draft ordinance intended to replace the existing law. Council members Tony Spadaro, Jamie Lee Korns, Loren Kase and Josh Lorenz voted in favor, with Jeffery Kepler, David Perry and council president Joan Kearns voting against.
This is the third revision to the setback distance, which was initially set at 1,000 feet and adjusted to 800 several months ago. Last week, council gave the administrative staff approval to propose a 700-foot setback. If council approves the proposed revision at its next voting meeting, the draft ordinance will be sent to both the Westmoreland County and Murrysville planning commissions for a 45-day review period, before returning to council for a final vote.
The discussion and vote by council was preceded by a long period of public comment in which many residents, wearing green ribbons or clothes, voiced their support for increasing the setback distance to 1,000 feet or more.
Justin and Sarah Hough of Fieldcrest Drive said living near a pad has had negative impacts on their daily lives. Mr. Hough said that when he realized the well was going to be drilled, he purchased an air quality meter to monitor air quality.
“Before drilling began there was never a red [poor quality] reading. Once the drilling started, there were many occasions on which the meter indicated poor air quality,” he said.
Vicky Higgins of Farm Road supported a reduced setback distance, saying that the impacts of drilling are temporary. “There are long periods of time when nothing takes place on a well pad. The setback should be as close the state requirement of 500 feet,” she told council.
Paul Burke, vice president of drilling firm Huntley and Huntley, told council that drilling activities take place in stages and to expect the total drilling activity on a well pad with multiple wells to take place over a sixmonth period.
After about two hours of public comment, council took up the discussion.
“What advantage does reducing the setback provide?” asked Mr. Kepler. “Those of you in favor of reducing the setback owe an answer to that question. This is driven by those who own leases and believe the wells can be drilled safely. But other drillers can come in in the future who do not care about Murrysville. We have to provide the maximum protection.”
“I will not vote for anything less than 800 feet. This setback is the only protection we can provide,” said Ms. Kearns.
Council also removed a requirement for any land developer to explain how an operation would comply with the state’s environmental rights amendment.
Mr. Lorenz said the ordinance already “requires the applicant to submit to us anything they provide to the state or federal regulators.”