South Fayette hires firm for gas well site
South Fayette Township commissioners voted 4-0 to hire Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering, Inc. to review a proposed Marcellus Shale gas well site. Commissioner Joe Horowitz was absent from the Oct. 16 meeting.
Township resident John Alan Kosky has filed an application with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for potential drilling on property located on Cecil-Sturgeon Road in South Fayette.
“South Fayette Township has not been served with any application, so there has been no compliances with local ordinances,” said Deron Gabriel, president of the board of commissioners. He said the DEP has not provided the township with a copy of the application.
Gabriel said the proposed site appears to be only about one mile from the South Fayette School District campus. The property is currently zoned PED, or planned economic development. Under the township’s oil and gas ordinance, drilling is permitted as a conditional use in PED districts.
Lennon, Smith, Souleret Engineering based out of Coraopolis will be utilized by the township for miscellaneous services related to the Cuddy Gas Well review and other matters as it sees fit.
In other business, commissioners approved advertising for various appointments to township boards. The open positions include two on the library board, one on the municipal authority board, two full and one alternate terms on the zoning hearing board as well as three terms on the board of standards. Township Manager Ryan Eggleston said interested residents should submit applications to the township by Nov. 15.
The board also voted unanimously to execute a deed of easement and right-of-way regarding water tanks adjacent to Fairview Park. The easement will enable Pennsylvania American Water to have access to run a storm line to connect into South Fayette’s system in case of storm water overflow.