Marcellus Shale - Gas Wells

September 13, 2010

Dallas Twp. ponders gas pipeline easement

By Sarah Hite shite@timesleader.com
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DALLAS TWP. – Supervisors are mulling whether to accept a request to place a natural gas pipeline in the township, and residents came out Tuesday night to ask questions about the matter.

Solicitor Tom Brennan recently received a letter from the state Bureau of Forestry that stated the township has the final decision concerning the placement of the pipeline. Chief Oil and Gas Co. has asked to lease a 50-foot easement along the perimeter of a community forest in the township.

Resident Al Rodriguez is especially concerned about the dangers of laying a pipeline in the area.

“Prevention is always a whole lot better,” he said of safety issues connected to the line.

Brennan said the supervisors are still undecided on the issue, but they have been taking the time to educate themselves on the matter.

In August, the township officials attended a drilling awareness meeting presented by the Gas Drilling Awareness Coalition, and Brennan also says the supervisors have attended a Hazleton seminar on gas pipelines for emergency responders.

Brennan said officials also must research what conditions the township would ask for if it chose to accept Chief Oil and Gas Co.’s offer.

“We’re not finished, but I think we’re doing what we said we’d do,” said Brennan of the township’s effort to make an educated decision.

He also reminded attendants at the meeting that gas pipelines are all over the township. Supervisor Philip Walter said that if the township doesn’t accept the offer, the gas company could “go through someone else” to lay the line.

Brennan also said the township plans to make better use of the land in question. He said representatives from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Bureau of Forestry are generating plans for the overall management of the area, regardless of whether the pipeline gets the green light.

Brennan said the township may hold a public meeting for more information on this issue.

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