Peters Township Council Plans to Take Action on Marcellus Shale Bill

At the regular Peters Township Council meeting Monday night, there was much talk about (House Bill 1950) and its potential effects on the community.

Peters Township previously adopted a zoning ordinance requiring sites to operate within a 40-acre area in residential zoning districts and meet required setback distances from structures.

Under the new law, signed by Gov. Tom Corbett, gas drilling operations will be regulated by a permitted use ordinance, suggesting that council has no power to establish drilling site parameters and current ordinances may not be enforceable.

The previously required 40 acres has now been reduced to only 4 acres and the setback is only 500 feet from structures. The bill could also prevent lease holders from terminating their leases signed under old parameters.

Members of the Peters Township Marcellus Shale Awareness group voiced their concerns about House Bill 1950 and asked council for help in finding legal recourse to protect Peters Township residents.

Councilman David Ball went to Harrisburg and met with the state lieutenant governor, senators and legislators, and is working with other communities to see what can be done.

“We’re not giving up," he said. "It’s unconscionable that they should preempt our zoning laws. We do have to have zoning authority and we’re going to work on trying to get it back."

The bill gives municipalities 120 days to amend their ordinances.

Taking the first step in this process, council authorized township Solicitor William Johnson to confer with other township solicitors and review the bill to see what Peters Township would need to change and identify any areas in the bill that may be legally challengeable.