Bell Acres Approves Marcellus Shale Ordinance

Bell Acres Council unanimously passed a natural gas drilling ordinance Monday night.

Councilman Dwight Howes was absent.

Borough Manager Charles Kulbacki said officials have been working for about a year to craft the ordinance, which provides safeguards for residents while promoting reasonable oil and gas development.

“God help us all,” one audience member said after the ordinance was approved.

Residents have told council members that they are skeptical about the impact of Marcellus Shale drilling.

Marcellus Shale is a formation of sedimentary rock that contains a large stretch of mostly untapped natural gas. Area communities such as Bell Acres and municipalities across Pennsylvania have been working to put ordinances in place that help to regulate gas drilling.

Bell Acres Council asked the borough's planning commission members last year to begin studying other municipal ordinances and information relating to Marcellus Shale drilling.

Council President Dennis Young said Bell Acres officials composed about a half-dozen draft ordinances before the planning commission recommended approving the 27-page ordinance as presented Monday.

As part of the process, Solicitor Robert Junker said a notice and copy now will be sent to the Allegheny County Planning Division.

Council credited the planning commission and member Diane Abell for the hard work that went into drafting the ordinance.

Councilman Kenneth Alvania suggested the borough give Diane Abell a $100 gift certificate to a restaurant to show their appreciation.

Junker said he would have to review the borough’s ordinance to see if the additional compensation would be permitted, so council tabled the motion. Planning commission members receive a $25 stipend per month for their work.  

Diane Abell, who sat in the audience, told council repeatedly that she didn’t need a gift card.

“It’s not necessary,” her husband, Councilman Chris Abell said on her behalf.

Young said he has been on council for 14 years and the ordinance was more work than any other ordinance the borough has adopted in his time.

“I’ve never seen an ordinance like this, where it was more than two pages,” Young said.

Among the regulations the ordinance addresses are limits on noise levels at a drill site during work hours, which are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. No weekend or holiday drilling is permitted.

The ordinance also requires a minimum of 10 acres and setbacks of at least 600 feet from any residence, school, church, business or other place of public assembly.

If a property isn’t part of the gas development, drillers must be at least 200 feet from a property line, and residents located within 1,000 feet of the planned surface location of the well and other adjacent property owners would have to be notified within 60 days before any drilling occurs.

Emergency responders and local mutual aid fire departments must be notified when a drilling operation is coming to the area and given funds to train annually in case of an emergency as long as drilling is taking place at a site.

The ordinance also sets other regulations for drillers, including waste removal, insurance coverage, road usage, well-water testing, on-site storage, fencing standards and community and environmental impact assessments.

In other business:

Council hired Paul Mohrie of New Brighton to replace Richard Davidson from the Department.

Mohrie will work as a full-time assistant and laborer, granted all the benefits according to his agreement. He is hired under the condition that he successfully complete a physical and any other borough requirements. His 90-day probation period will begin the first day he starts working, and at the end of the period the public works committee and department head will review his job performance.

Councilman Philip Ewanko, public works chairman, said the borough received 10 to 11 applications and set up two interviews last week that included Mohrie. Mohrie has previous experience with asphalt, concrete, mechanical work and more.

“We believe he’ll be an outstanding asset to our department,” Ewanko said.

Weight limit study planned

Council ordered Borough Engineer Richard Shoup to begin a road study and engineering study at a cost of $600 to determine weight limits for borough roadways. None of the roads in Bell acres have weight limits, which would be beneficial to maintaining the roads, officials said.

Spring Clean-Up announced

Bell Acres will have Spring Clean-Up on Saturday, May 21. The borough road department will provide curbside collection of branches and limbs. Branches must not exceed 8 feet in length and 4 inches in diameter. They should be neatly stacked with the cut ends facing the road.