North Fayette residents raise concerns about proposed fracking site
NORTH FAYETTE, Pa. (KDKA) — Some neighbors in North Fayette said they feel the township failed to spread the word about a proposed fracking site, calling communication around the project "a joke."
Neighbors in the Seabright neighborhood said they either didn't know about the proposed fracking site or wanted to know more but weren't sure of the best way to get answers.
"For us, we're just collateral damage," resident Vincent Smith said. "What can we really do? Try to organize, get the community together. But it's just one of those things, very helpless."
He lives in the plan directly adjacent to the proposed Range Resources drilling site at a private family farm on Seabright Road. A small sign along the busy road attempted to alert residents to a township public meeting about the plan. KDKA-TV learned about 10 people attended the meeting back in August.
KDKA-TV confirmed Range Resources filed an application for what's called a conditional use permit in North Fayette. It could lead to the company leasing land for fracking from a family-owned farm and constructing a well pad with capacity for up to 13 oil and gas wells. Five wells would be developed at the state.
The application on North Fayette's website states the family aims to lease 14 of its nearly 300 acres for fracking. It will lead to heavy construction Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The drilling will happen 24/7, with at least 15 oil and gas wells developed over multiple years.
Range Resources says it will handle all safety and security at the drilling site.
"We have two dogs, have a 1 1/2-year-old son, trying to get pregnant again," Smith said. "I don't like the fact within a mile there's gonna be something I don't know much about going on here."
Many neighbors said they want to know how this could advance so quickly at the tail end of summer.
In a statement on Monday, a Range Resources spokesperon said:
"Range has been safely developing natural gas in Southwestern Pennsylvania for 20 years with the community in mind. Engaging with nearby residents is part of our operations approach - which includes open houses, in-person meetings, field tours and regular updates. The township has advertised and commenced multiple meetings related to this well site in which our team attended, presented, and answered questions for both the supervisors and township residents."
North Fayette Township manager can't comment
North Fayette town manager J.R. Mangan tells KDKA the township cannot comment at this time due to the pending application, but he added the township held a public hearing on August 27 and heard public comments following an August 1 planning commission meeting where the idea was introduced. The township's Board of Supervisors can deliberate up until an October 1 decision deadline.
When asked if there's another public meeting scheduled, Mangan said no other public meetings are planned, adding "We satisfied the two meetings required."
Permits are already in process. Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection confirmed it issued an earth disturbance permit on Aug. 23 and DEP received an application from Range Resources for the well permit. DEP tells KDKA that the application is currently under review.