Many residents attended a presentation last week on the alleged environmental damage caused by natural gas drilling. And about 60 residents showed up today to call for supervisors to limit or prevent drilling in the largely rural area.
However, supervisors and their solicitor, Steve Yakopec, said municipalities have little authority over natural gas extraction.
Some residents proposed a moratorium on drilling but Yakopec said that would have to come from the state level.
Supervisors Chairman Ross Walker III, after attending several meetings hosted by the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors and by Chesapeake Energy, said he is comfortable enough that he may sign a lease for drilling on his own property.
This produced an outcry from the audience with many people listing possible consequences of drilling, including air, water and noise pollution, decreased property value, and road damage from truck traffic.
Several angry residents shouted that they believed the supervisors, who did not attend last week’s presentation, had already made up their minds to allow drilling due to financial incentives.
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