Gas drilling problems discussed in Ridgway

Monday, November 22, 2010

RIDGWAY - Resident and member of the Elk County Citizens Advocating Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) Rick Glover asked the Ridgway Township supervisors if they are willing to take action to deter Marcellus Shale gas wells from coming into the area.
"I'm just wondering if the township is looking into putting some kind of ordinance or something along those lines to stop any further drilling in the watershed," Glover said.
"We can't stop the drilling," Supervisor Millie Bowers said.
Bowers said Attorney Ben Price of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF), who CARES suggested the township speak to, sent two ordinances which both involved stopping fracking. Bowers said the township can't stop fracking because it goes against the Oil and Gas Act.
Glover said he understands where the township is coming from and will take that information back to CARES. With so many sources of information, Glover feels it's important to keep an open line of communication and to check to see what pathways have the potential to work.
Glover said to his knowledge, if the township adopts an ordinance, the CELDF will financially support the township through any litigation which is filed against it.
"That's part of the problem," Bowers said.
Supervisor Sarah Dickinson and Bowers said if the township faces litigation from a gas company for an ordinance passed by the township which unlawfully prohibits drilling, the fund could not assist the township through the legal process. That is another reason the supervisors are researching their possibilities, but are being cautious of ordinances presented to them.
Glover said there must be something the township can do to prevent or deter drilling within the township.
"Well, if someone presented it to us we'd look at it," Bowers said. "It's my drinking water too. Seriously, it scares me."
Glover said he doesn't want to stop drilling from happening, he just wants to see it done safely.
"Everyone wants to see the economy grow and everything else, but it's like anything else - you don't have to rush in all at once and take it all out. It's not going anywhere. It's like money in the bank," Glover said. "And that watershed, when we lose that, we're done. We're done."
Dickinson mentioned the water trucks have been rolling out of Gillis Avenue, headed for well pad sites, after being filled with water. Currently, within the township, there is one active well at the end of Grant Road, in the Allegheny National Forest, before the ski lodge.
Bowers said for her, the well is "too close for comfort" to Ridgway's Reservoir.
"Just to tell you, I've got a friend who drives one (a water truck), and God love him, he needed a job and he went out and took the chance two years ago and got one of those trucks and he's driving it right now," Glover said. "I want him to work. I want him to make a good living, but I don't need 5,000 of those trucks though."
Bowers said one of the biggest issues with the Marcellus Shale drilling in the area is that the legislation needs changed. This is what she has heard time and time again from the information meetings on the topic she has attended.
She said ultimately she doesn't understand why so many people are coming to the township to state their claim. While the supervisors are sensitive to the issue, the borough supplies and treats the water.
"I don't want to stop the drilling. If they're going to frack and they're going to frack somewhere where they're not hurting anybody - let Ridgway sell the water and let Ridgway treat the water," Glover said.
In treating the water, Glover believes Ridgway is liable for it once it is treated.
"The problem is they don't know what they're treating. They don't know the chemicals that are in that," Glover said. "If they don't know what chemicals are in it, how are they going to know they treat it properly?"
From Glover's perspective, the DEP's job is to fix the problem after its already there.
"They'll try to come in and give you some medicine after the fact, but I don't want to get sick," Glover said.
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Reported by Katie Weidenboerner, staff writer. Email: katiew@thecourierexpress.com.