Fracking and Industrial Development
Typical Intense Fracking Development In Western Pennsylvania
West Deer's Oil & Gas Zoning Vs. Our Neighbors |
Fracking Activity In West Deer |
|
|
|
Why Are We Concerned?
|
On Wednesday, September 18, 2024 most of our township Supervisors FAILED TO PROTECT US when they voted 3 to 1 to pass an ordinance that ignored all of the concerns raised by many community residents. In fact, several changes made to the zoning ordinance REDUCE our protections! The most egregious is: the new ordinance allows, as a permitted use, well pipelines, interconnects, supporting structures and facilities in 7 of 11 zoning districts including residential areas, potentially near your home!
Allowing oil & gas infrastructure as a permitted use means that with all new applications there is NO notice required to surrounding and adjoining property owners. Residents will not be aware of the permitted infrastructure's nature and location, until building begins. We and the township Planning Commission and Supervisors will have NO voice in the oil & gas industry's impact on our safety, quality of life, and potential decrease in property values. This is a serious concern that can literally FOREVER compromise the public safety of West Deer residents and neighbors in bordering communities. If not properly regulated through strong ordinances and with adequate restrictions, our health and welfare will be at risk and we will see a deterioration in the rural environment that makes West Deer the perfect community to live in and raise a family! CROWD has asked the Supervisors publicly on multiple occasions WHO recommended the changes that remove protections and WHY? We have never received an answer. |
What Are We Asking For?
|
These are our five demands for changes to the ordinance to give those who live, work and play in West Deer protections they MUST HAVE!
1. NO PERMITTED USE for Oil & Gas Infrastructure. The current permitted use allows pipelines and other industrial equipment in residential areas, near your home, with NO public review or input from residents or even the Supervisors! This infrastructure should only be a CONDITIONAL use, and part of any well pad application. 2. NO DRILLING in Residential (R2 & R3) areas. The current ordinance allows a gas well in residential areas, as a result a pad on your neighbor’s property may only be 750 feet from your front door, even if it is only 50’ from your property line, where your children play! 3. RESTORE setback of 1,000 feet from the Limit of Disturbance changes to the ordinance in September 2024 reduced the set-back and the way it is measured; no longer from the edge of the well site, including all well facilities, whether temporary or permanent, to any structure but are now measured from the well pad making the new ordinance less restrictive than what was previously in place. More lenient ordinances equal more risk to our residents! 4. REQUIRE a 3,000 foot setback from PROTECTED facilities, which includes schools, daycare centers, medical facilities, senior living facilities and EMS / VFD operations. 5. ADD BASELINE TESTING of air, water, and soil quality, as well as independent sound and traffic studies, paid for by the oil and gas companies at the time of the application. These requirements are similar to many of our neighboring communities including: Hampton, Indiana, Churchill, and others. (For more details/information click here!) |
Stay Informed! Join our email list and follow us on social media.