Very little land in Peters Township suitible for gas drilling
Less than four percent of the land in Peters Township would be suitable for underground gas drilling, according to a study done for the municipality by a Maryland hydrologist.
Peters officials have proposed having 500-feet between any building and a gas well, which has eliminated a number of locations for gas extraction.
“A small area in the township would meet the criteria,” said Keith Eshleman of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Appalachian Laboratory in Frostburg, Md., who was hired in March. “About 460 acres, three to four percent of the township.”
Because of changes in state law, Peters must eliminate its Mineral Extraction Overlay District, which would have allowed natural gas drilling in 15 areas of the township, all zoned residential. To date, no gas wells have been drilled in the township, but there are gas wells in adjacent municipalities.
The problem Peters faces is how it can allow drilling and still meet state law, especially when it comes to protecting the environment. Compounding the issue for the township is a built-up community with a number of residential developments.
Earlier this year, Peters formed a committee of township officials, along with council and planning commission members, to explore the possibility of natural gas drilling in the township, as well as its zoning ordinance in order to decide what changes – if any – need to be made for gas extraction to take place. But if zoning changes take place, there must be compatible uses. A residential area cannot be located next to an industrial site.
“You don’t have to have 1,000 well pads to cover the township,” said Eshleman, who presented his findings June 1 to the township committee. “That doesn’t mean in 10 years it can be done.”
Based on Eshleman’s findings, there is not a suitable location for a gas well in the western portion of Peters. But, there is a large patch of suitable land in the Venetia Hills section of the township, said Michael Silvestri, township manager.
“Peters has grown into a community where people live,” said Monica Merrell, a township council member. “They work elsewhere.”
Eshleman’s study did not look at land outside of the municipality, or current or proposed zoning districts or district boundaries. It also did not address topography, land ownership, or any past, present or future gas leasing arrangements.
“This is a first step in a comprehensive study,” he said.