Harveys Lake mulls anti-fracking measure

EILEEN GODIN Times Leader Correspondent

HARVEYS LAKE – Borough Council members on Tuesday said they would weigh the pros and cons of a ordinance to ban the fracking process of the natural gas drilling industry.

Resident Michelle Boice, a longtime activist against natural gas drilling, implored council to consider adopting an anti-fracking ordinance like Licking Township in Clarion County did last week.

Boice told council that the threat of such action is the gas companies will sue.

“If our water is contaminated, and we are all sick,” Boice said. “Be sued or be sick.”

She suggested council arrange a meeting with Shireen Parsons of the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund. Boice said this organization provided Licking Township with its ordinance, which was passed last week.

On Monday night, a local grassroots group urged Lake Township supervisors also to pass such an ordinance.

Councilman Rich Williams said he has Parsons’ phone number and a copy of the Licking Township ordinance.

Boice told council there is an overwhelming number of residents who want this ordinance.

Councilman Ryan Doughton said council will have its solicitor, Charles McCormick, take a look at the ordinance and will discuss the pros and cons.

After the meeting, McCormick said he was familiar with the ordinance from the Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund and said it is a high-risk move. He said he was aware of one municipality who deemed the ordinance unconstitutional.

“The organization is a nonprofit, activist group,” McCormick said. “Council has to weigh these issues, including the liability to the community. The risk is fairly evident.”