Middlesex Twp. Zoneing Challange Geyer Well et al

All things pertaining to Middlesex Twp gas drilling activities or lack thereof.

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Permalink Reply by LH on June 26, 2015 at 2:23am
Permalink Reply by LH on July 1, 2015 at 11:34am
Permalink Reply by LH on July 1, 2015 at 2:28pm

FYI--

Tuesday, July 14 at 3:00pm - 6:00pm
Parking Lots Mars Middle and High School


About

The Mars Parent Group has been fighting to keep their children safe from the risk of nearby unconventional gas drilling. Rex Energy isattempting to place a fracking well on the Geyer property which is ½ mile from the Mars Area School District campus. Approximately 3,200 children and staff occupy the 5 school buildings and outdoor spaces that make up the campus. Although the challenge to the placement of the Geyer well failed at the Middlesex Township Zoning Hearing Board, the plaintiffs have appealed the decision to the Court of Common Pleas and an injunction is now in place to prevent drilling pending a decision on the appeal. 

Rex Energy and the leaseholders who put their right to make money from their property above the safety and welfare of the children on the Mars School District campus need to know that the community has its priorities in order – CHILDREN FIRST. We are the adults in the room.

Join us to send this message for a rally to protest drilling near the schools. This is a legal rally. Bring your hand made signs to express your outrage that the children of these schools—or any school—should be potentially imperiled for economic gain.

Permalink Reply by DG on July 2, 2015 at 12:52am

See....I don't get why the Mars Parent Group needs to keep making this such a fight, their comments and statements seem like they are fueled with hate and disgust, in my opinion. Their way of the highway. They act like if you "aren't with them"  you don't care about children safety. Do they not realize all the other potential dangers our children face during their K-12 grade time at school, which I'm more worried about verses this operation that would have and could have been drilled, completed and tied into pipe before school was back in session.

Heck do they not know about all the current shallow producing wells that are currently in our area that supply the gas to their homes?  And how they were drilled ages ago without all the regulations that a marcellus well is under? I rather have a marcellus well producing gas than the little shallow wells that are the most risky.  Oh but I guess its okay because that all took place before they moved here and built their McMansions, they didn't have to be around to deal with it in their backyard. 

They have yet to look at or speak to all the other schools that have been "near" gas producing locations since 2008 which is when the first Marcellus well came online. There are PLENTY across the state, and most districts are LEASED. Do they think that they are first district that had to go through this? 

They way they state that Rex is placing a "fracking well" is so misleading. If they really understood operations they would realize "fracking" is just a step in the entire process. Its not something that is constantly going on at the well location. 

I think that their intent has shifted to what they are really after and with their two lobbyist leading the way for their group it has gotten out of their hands. 

Because the outcome of this challenge could and will have a state wide effect.

There is so much at stack with this challenge that the entire industry is keeping tabs on the outcome here.  I think its going to take a lot of time for a final decision. 

Okay my rant is over. 

Permalink Reply by LH on July 2, 2015 at 1:24am

I couldn't agree with you more and you said it perfectly.    I have seen statements like " we aren't against drilling entirely" and "we want to continue to talk about this".  No, what they really mean is you haven't told me want I want to hear which is no drilling at all.  

The one article I posted yesterday from the Trib states that the drilling has been halted until July 26th.  The opponents have to come up with $250,000 bond by that date to continue to  stop the work during the appeals .  If they don't come up with the money, then Rex can continue July 27th.  The article from the Cranberry Eagle doesn't say any of that and says the work has  continued.  

I am sitting in my living room listening to all the construction of the housing plan being built next to my private lane but as one opponent of the gas well put how her family had to endure the loud noise and and lights of the Reno gas well. Oh that's right as the Principal of the Elementary school said at the Middlesex hearing the noise of the  housing plans being built were expected.  The gas wells were not.

Rex said they would not drill or frack during school hours. As you stated DG, the drilling and fracking would have been done before school started.  If the article in the Trib is true and Rex has to wait until July 27th(if the opponents don't come up with the bond), then they should just drill and frack during school hours to get it done.  

Permalink Reply by LH on July 2, 2015 at 1:29am

I thought this was funny. I had a friend stop over the other day and as she was coming through the door she asked if all that noise was the drilling of the Geyer well pad.  I said no that is the housing plan being built.....

Permalink Reply by deer spotter on July 2, 2015 at 2:07am

$250,000 Bond is too low! Bond should be at least $1,000,000. Seems as the parent group is slinging mud just to see if any of it sticks. One note to the parents group, township zoning can not supersede DEP regulations, that part of ACT 13 is still in effect.

Permalink Reply by DG on July 2, 2015 at 2:31am

Yes $250K is way to low! 

It said that the bond is "required to offset any losses that Rex incurs should the court rule in the townships favor"

I know that $250k barely covers anything to prepare a site for development. How was that amount determined. 

But don't worry Delaware Riverkeeper and Clear Air will pay for it. 

Whats the latest with anything regarding the suit that local residents filed against DR and CA? 

DEP has already issued their permits, but locally most operators have to get a use permit from the township too, but as long as they fulfill the requirements the twp should issue, but Rex has gone above and beyond of what is legally required, even to get a conditional use permit. 

Time will tell. 

Permalink Reply by LH on July 2, 2015 at 2:47am

I haven't heard anything on the landowners lawsuit.

Permalink Reply by LH on July 2, 2015 at 2:45am

I thought that was too low also. These same people are being personally sued by a few landowners.

Permalink Reply by LH on July 2, 2015 at 4:10am

Here is a picture attached to the rally they are having on July 14th.  It is very misleading.  If you are not familiar with this area, the picture looks like the drilling rig for the Geyer Well pad is right next to the school/ playground. This picture is taken in a different township.  Does not surprise me because they have a few misleading pictures on the Mars parent group website.  One picture looks like the entrance to the well pad is across the street from the middle school, When in fact it is not.

Permalink Reply by Vicki on July 2, 2015 at 5:04am

Hi Cat,

Would you be able to provide the source of the information above related to July 14th?

Thank you,

Vicki

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