Accord OKs plan for pipeline with rules

By Sarah Hite shite@timesleader.comStaff Writer

DALLAS TWP. – Williams Field Services LLC can now move forward with its proposed natural gas pipeline project after signing an agreement with the township Tuesday, but the company must follow the rules as set forth by township officials.

Concerned residents are trying to devise legal action to take on the issue, as the pipeline will tap into another gas line about 1,800 feet from the Dallas School District campus.

The agreement would allow Williams to construct five miles of its Springville Gathering Line in the township pursuant to several stipulations.

Williams spokesperson Helen Humphreys said signing the agreement with the township was “very important” to the company’s pipeline project, which is already underway in Susquehanna and Wyoming counties.

“We have a 25-year contract with Cabot Oil & Gas to construct, operate and maintain a pipeline to move the natural gas from wells ultimately to American homes and businesses,” she said. “If we can’t construct the pipeline, we don’t have the contract.”

The major issue contested in 2 � months of negotiations was whether local zoning laws applied to natural gas pipelines.

Township Solicitor Thomas Brennan said this issue still has not been resolved, but the company will submit a zoning application to the township that will be approved contingent upon compliance with the agreement terms.

The Dallas School District had retained an attorney in zoning hearings for another gas company, Chief Gathering LLC, for similar projects, but two school board members said Wednesday there are no plans to utilize attorney Jack Dean of Elliot, Greenleaf & Dean to take action against Williams – yet.

“It comes down to a hook-up to the pipeline, and our experts reviewing it to ensure that it doesn’t pose an imminent threat,” said Dean.

Board President Bruce Goeringer said there’s not much the school board can do now except to monitor the situation carefully to determine whether to get involved.

“We’re going to be aware as members of the school board to make sure we have a safe school campus,” he said. “That’s our responsibility. We’ll be cooperating with the township supervisors. They have more jurisdiction than we do.”

Board member and head of the property committee Gary Mathers said that with state funds dwindling in the public school system, it would be difficult to foresee the need to retain Dean in future hearings.

“I think with funding (as) tight as it is because changes from Harrisburg, our hands are pretty well tied so far as our expenditures are concerned,” said Mathers. “Our responsibility is to educate the children, and I’m not sure we have the funding to pursue it any further than we already have.”

Resident Diane Dreier, a member of the Gas Drilling Awareness Coalition, said she was “disappointed in the agreement” and wished officials would have allowed public comment on the document before its approval.

“The pipeline and metering station issues are the most important issues I know of in terms of safety and property values that have ever confronted residents and taxpayers in Dallas Township.”

She said the Dallas Parent-Taxpayers Group met Wednesday evening to discuss the ramifications of the decision made by the township and whether legal recourse can be taken.