Delaware County officials in particular:  it’s clear you think that having NYC telling us what to do is bad.  And so it is.  But tragically, if you facilitate or allow gas drilling to take place here, you – and your constituents – will have get used to much worse:

From a homeowner in Mt Pleasant Township, Pennsylvania -

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I wanted to pass along an update of what has been happening in Mt. Pleasant Township.  I find this whole thing very disturbing and unethical!  Several weeks ago our township zoning hearing board denied a variance and special exception to our zoning ordinances for MarkWest and Range Resources.  MarkWest was for the expansion of the compressor next to our home and another station in our township.  Range  Resources was for hosting the “man camps” at the drill sites.  

http://www.observer-reporter.com/OR/Story/05-13-2010-mt–pleasant-bunk-houses (MarkWest processes the gas that Range Resources pulls out of the ground).

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The man camps are set up when the driller starts the horizontal drilling.  They drill around the clock and claim that they need men there the entire time.  Some work 14 hour shifts.  Mobile trailers are placed on the drill pad to house the workers.  They contain sleeping quarters, eating areas and shower houses.  They have housed locally anywhere from 25 to 70+ men at one time.  During our public hearing an employee of Range Resources admitted that they leave background checks up to their sub-contractor, Patterson Drilling.  They only do back ground checks in the last state the man worked in.  This is NOT a federal background check.  Therefore, sex offenders can be living at these sites and we would never know.  They are going to be drilling ten wells across the street from our school and another ten beside the school.  We are VERY concerned about the safety of the children.  There are no fences around these camps.  In addition, the drilling company was hesitant in supplying documentation on the disposal of human waste from the site.  Like they aren’t dumping enough in our creeks…

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This was a huge statement in the State.  However, the industry retaliated. These two companies, along with their sub-contractors, boycotted all of our local businesses. Which in turn had business owners pressuring the township supervisors to reverse the decision.

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Then Range Resources sent letters to land owners who have leases.  The letters stated that since MarkWest couldn’t expand the compressor station, Range couldn’t drill for gas.  Therefore, this was causing a delay in them receiving their royalties.  Once again, more phone calls to the township supervisors. 

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It now sounds like within days the twp. supervisors will over turn this decision and allow MarkWest to expand their compressor stations.

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As if our community was not already divided enough, now the industry put in a bigger wedge.  “Divide and Conquer”.  I know this has happened in other parts of the country.  I find this a pitiful attempt to punish communities that tried to stand up to them.  This will further intimidate other rural communities.

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Not that I expect you to aid in this in anyway, but I just wanted you to understand what were are dealing with here.  This just adds to the nightmare we deal with!

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Steph Hallowich

Hickory, PA

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Below:  Range Resources’ letter to lessors, threatening them with loss of their royalties if they don’t pressure their township supervisors to give Range Resources what it wants.

Tags: compressor station, Hickory, man camps, MarkWest, PA, Range Resources