Gas hearing continued in Summit
SUMMIT TWP — Township supervisors Wednesday continued until next month a public hearing about a conditional use permit that XTO Energy is requesting for a compressor station.
However, that decision did not stop residents from speaking out. About 45 people attended the hearing at the township building. Almost all of them spoke out against the plant.
Township solicitor Mike Gallagher said after a brief executive session that the hearing should be continued until XTO can bring more people who have a broader understanding of the questions being asked.
“We want more specific answers,” Gallagher said.
XTO, through its subsidiary company Mountain Gathering LLC, is seeking a conditional use permit to potentially construct a natural gas compressor station on more than 140 acres zoned for residential use off Herman Road.
Brent Ramsey, a project specialist for consulting engineer Gannett Fleming, said the station, which helps move natural gas from well pads to plants for further processing, would be built on an abandoned mine site and would use an existing access road.
Maximo Camacho, an engineer with XTO, said the company is still doing preliminary research on the site. So far, it only is a potential location for the station.
He said the site would have a green building with compressors inside and tanks outside, all in a fenced area. He said there could be up to eight compressors in the building, but he said he did not know how many would be at the station yet. Construction would take about six to eight months. The pipeline pressure would be between 900 and 1,100 pounds per square inch.
Willie Adams, township board chairman, asked about the noise level, which he said would probably be the supervisors' biggest concern.
Ramsey said the location of the station would diminish noise. Camacho said the building helps keep noise down. He noted the station XTO built in Jefferson Township is very quiet, and said the company would work to the township's standards.
Supervisor Rick Green asked what would happen in the event of fire. Camacho said the plant would shut down immediately and the gas would be vented out. He also asked about odors. Camacho said there is equipment to eliminate odors.
Resident Gary Cooper said he lives opposite of the proposed site. He said he was concerned about the pipeline pressure.
“I'm afraid,” Cooper said.
“Just don't do it,” said resident Susan Bonefeste.
Herman Emanuele, who would be the closest resident, said he was concerned about noise, fumes, leaks and about how many wells the gas going to the station would come from. Camacho said he did not know from how many wells would be sourced.
Another resident asked about potential emissions of carcinogens, which Camacho said he could not address.
Penni Lechner Wahler said she did not feel confident in XTO because the representatives were not providing solid answers. Camacho said he did not have answers to all of the questions.
Wahler said she had been to the Jefferson Township plant, and it was quiet, but she said she had been to others that were very loud.
Jennifer Schaffner asked about pipeline construction. She said, when another pipeline was built near her house, the noise was excruciating.
“We live here. This is our home,” Schaffner said to applause.
The hearing will continue at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at the township building, 502 Bonniebrook Road.
