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Commission reviews water-pumping plans
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BY TIFFANY PEDEN
STAFF WRITER
ATHENS TWP. — The Athens Township Planning Commission met Monday night to go over the plans for gas company Chesapeake Appalachia to set up a water pumping operation in East Athens.
“There has been a couple of proceedings already, but at the last meeting of the board of supervisors, the matter was sent back to planning commission for review because there was a revision to the map,” said Athens Township Solicitor Jeff Osmond.
Chesapeake Appalachia has proposed drawing up to 999,000 gallons of water per day — for gas drilling operations — from a site in East Athens. A conditional use application for the company has already been approved by Athens Township; however, the company’s land development application had been tabled at a previous Athens Township meeting and sent back to the planning commission.
Osmond said that the job of the planning commission, a board of four members appointed by the board of supervisors, is to serve in an advisory capacity, and not to make approval or disapproval of plans.
“They will look at an application for land development or subdivision in Athens Township and they will make recommendations to the board of supervisors, and it’s going to be up to the board of supervisors as to what formal action is to be taken on the application,” Osmond explained.
Dave Young, of Larson Design Group, went through some items and revisions that Athens Township officials had requested to be changed or put on the plans, including listing the width of the road, providing information on the pump being used and providing the sound output at the water pump, which he said would be between 60-62 decibels — 60 being “much less than what the operating noise of the road is,” he said.
The planning commission members looked through Chesapeake’s plans for any deficiencies, and found a few. Planning commission member Clif Cheeks said that Young addressed all the issues with the exception of providing raised seal signatures on the plans and getting DEP approval.
The planning commission allowed members of the public to comment, and Attorney John Foster, solicitor for Athens Borough, asked the commission some questions.
“Did you consider the impact that the number of traffic vehicles from this site will have on the residents in the township at that location, and/or the residents of Athens Borough?” he asked.
Planning commission member Scot Saggiomo said that would not be anything the planning commission would look at.
The planning commission unanimously voted to give the plan preliminary approval if the contingencies they had, such as DEP permits and raised seal signatures, were satisfied, and the plans will be passed on to the board of supervisors for final approval.
“There has been a couple of proceedings already, but at the last meeting of the board of supervisors, the matter was sent back to planning commission for review because there was a revision to the map,” said Athens Township Solicitor Jeff Osmond.
Chesapeake Appalachia has proposed drawing up to 999,000 gallons of water per day — for gas drilling operations — from a site in East Athens. A conditional use application for the company has already been approved by Athens Township; however, the company’s land development application had been tabled at a previous Athens Township meeting and sent back to the planning commission.
Osmond said that the job of the planning commission, a board of four members appointed by the board of supervisors, is to serve in an advisory capacity, and not to make approval or disapproval of plans.
“They will look at an application for land development or subdivision in Athens Township and they will make recommendations to the board of supervisors, and it’s going to be up to the board of supervisors as to what formal action is to be taken on the application,” Osmond explained.
Dave Young, of Larson Design Group, went through some items and revisions that Athens Township officials had requested to be changed or put on the plans, including listing the width of the road, providing information on the pump being used and providing the sound output at the water pump, which he said would be between 60-62 decibels — 60 being “much less than what the operating noise of the road is,” he said.
The planning commission members looked through Chesapeake’s plans for any deficiencies, and found a few. Planning commission member Clif Cheeks said that Young addressed all the issues with the exception of providing raised seal signatures on the plans and getting DEP approval.
The planning commission allowed members of the public to comment, and Attorney John Foster, solicitor for Athens Borough, asked the commission some questions.
“Did you consider the impact that the number of traffic vehicles from this site will have on the residents in the township at that location, and/or the residents of Athens Borough?” he asked.
Planning commission member Scot Saggiomo said that would not be anything the planning commission would look at.
The planning commission unanimously voted to give the plan preliminary approval if the contingencies they had, such as DEP permits and raised seal signatures, were satisfied, and the plans will be passed on to the board of supervisors for final approval.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of thedailyreview.com.
Bob Wheatley wrote on Dec 2, 2008 9:32 AM:
" The creation of water extraction focus points throughout the county is a matter for our Commissioners to address. These should be established and permitted in areas away from homes, so the truck traffic does not become burdensome for citizens. I respect the decision of the Athens Township Planning Commission in this situation, acting as they were to protect their homeowners from truck traffic, But provision must also be made, at the county government level, to accommodate the needs of drillers for water.
Speaking for myself personally, I have never been more pleased not to be living near to a source of water. Five years from now, and especially given the lack of regulation and government action so far, that could be a real curse. I am counting my blessings, believe me. "
Speaking for myself personally, I have never been more pleased not to be living near to a source of water. Five years from now, and especially given the lack of regulation and government action so far, that could be a real curse. I am counting my blessings, believe me. "
Mark Smith County Commissioner wrote on Dec 2, 2008 6:02 PM:
" Bob,
We have little legal authority to deal with any of the natural gas impacts such as the one you speaking of. The industry is regulated at the state level and zoning is the local municipality.
Thanks,
Mark "
We have little legal authority to deal with any of the natural gas impacts such as the one you speaking of. The industry is regulated at the state level and zoning is the local municipality.
Thanks,
Mark "
paramour wrote on Dec 17, 2008 12:39 PM:
" One would think the most logical choices for pumping water and truck traffic in this area would be pumping and transporting water either out of the State Aggregates site in Sheshequin township, PA or Dalrymples in Chemung, NY. Specifically regarding the State Aggregates site; the road south from there has already been upgraded to handle heavy truck traffic, and their pit being next to the river is bound to eventually accumulate water much like at Dalrymple. "
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d hemingson wrote on Dec 2, 2008 8:08 AM: