Forum to Address Marcellus Shale Drilling

When Diane Abell began working on the Marcellus Shale ordinance for , the planning commission board member said she realized how much she needed to learn about gas drilling.

Her inbox fills up every day with resource material she has sought. She and her  husband, Bell Acres Councilman Chris Abell , said the planning committee came up with the idea for a forum to   local residents  about the ins and outs of Marcellus Shale drilling.

The meeting runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at the Big Sewickley Creek Fire Hall in Bell Acres. It is purely for informational purposes, Abell said.

“It’s strictly not pro or con, but information as far as what you need to know if you’re thinking about it, if your neighbor is thinking about it, all the pluses and minuses of what you should know legally,” Chris Abell said at  Monday night's council meeting.

Many are dealing with the Marcellus Shale gas drilling issue, from boards putting together ordinances that regulate companies to raising questions and concerns about natural gas drilling.

Chris Abell said the upcoming forum, hosted by a group of local organizations that make up the Sewickley Natural Areas Networks, isn’t to debate the merits of Marcellus Shale gas extraction, and he added that there shouldn't be any screaming or yelling at the meeting.

The event is free and open to the public, but space is limited.

“We have no idea how many people are going to show up, so come early and get a good seat,” he  said.

The information session is scheduled to include the following speakers:

• John Walliser, event moderator, Pennsylvania Environmental Council, offering opening remarks and an overview of the issues facing the state.

• Alan Eicher, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, providing an overview of the extraction process and DEP’s regulatory role.

• John Smith, attorney, discussing gas lease and land use negotiations

• Bob Fargo, Geo Resource Group, discussing groundwater protection and well-water testing

• Veronica Coptis, Mountain Watershed Association, discussing a citizen stewardship project.

In other business, Bell Acres Council on Monday:

Denied a street-naming request

Bell Acres Council refused to grant a request from the Quaker Valley Recreation Association to rename a private road in the borough. 

QVRA is working to complete an athletic field project at the Legacy Fields at Bouchard Family Park at Camp Meeting Road and Fern Hollow Road. The association wrote a letter to Bell Acres requesting that the borough rename a private road after one of the association’s donors.

But borough solicitor Robert Junker said Bell Acres cannot name a private drive because to do so would mean Bell Acres was accepting ownership of the road as a public street.

“It’s no longer a private lane if it’s been endorsed and accepted by the borough,” Junker said.

Borough Manager Charles Kulbacki said the property has an assigned address -- 2000 Camp Meeting Road -- for police and fire calls.

Council asked Kulbacki to send a letter notifying the QVRA of the borough’s decision.

Accepted a resignation

Council accepted the resignation of Richard Davidson from the Department. 

Council Vice President David Renfrew said Davidson's resignation letter  to  the borough was very thoughtful and caught him by surprise.

Citing family reasons, Davidson resigned, effective April 7, after 12 years with the department, said Philip Ewanko, public works chairman.

Ewanko thanked Davidson for his years of service to the borough.

“He did a lot of good work while he was with us. I’m sorry to see him go,” he  said.

• Council also voted to advertise the open position to hire a successor to Davidson. 

• Announced street sweeping would run Wednesday, April 20 and Thursday, April 21. Residents are asked to refrain from parking vehicles on the streets those two days.

• Approved a 2011/2012 contract with Morton Salt at a base price of $52.48 per ton, which is less than the borough paid two years ago.

• Announced the borough was compiling a list of emails from residents to send out updates and information as needed. Councilman Chris Abell said the borough was looking into a provider that offers up to 500 emails at $15 per month, with the first two months free.