BUFFALO TWP — Township officials don’t expect a natural gas compressor station being built off Ekastown Road to emit even a dull roar.

Supervisor John Haven, board chairman, said in an interview Mountain Gathering, an XTO Energy subsidiary, will construct the station more than 1,000 feet from any residences.

“It’s way on top of the hill,” Haven said.

He said based on his visits to similar Mountain Gathering stations in Forward and Jefferson townships, the Buffalo station’s operations won’t be a nuisance to anyone outside of the 20,000-square-foot building.

“You can hear humming,” Haven said. “That’s it.”

According to Amy Dobkin of XTO public and government affairs, the station’s sounds will be dampened by insulation and other dense materials lining the walls.

The township supervisors on Wednesday unanimously approved construction of the station, which will be on a 50-acre parcel leased from the Pajer family.

Mountain Gathering is permitted to house up to eight compressors at the station, but will only have one initially.

Haven said if the company opts to add compressors, it still would have to come before the supervisors with a new site plan.

“If they need to build it bigger, they will,” he said.

Haven said a new site plan review would mainly be needed for ensuring compliance with the township ordinance regulating construction’s impact on runoff water.

“It’s basically for stormwater,” he said.

Some township residents expressed concern at the supervisors meeting about the station’s noise output and dust that could be generated.

Dobkin stated in an e-mail that roads will be watered to minimize dust created by trucks traveling to and from the site, which would be accessed by Harvey Road from Ekastown.

Haven said the discussion at the meeting remained civil.

“Everybody was courteous,” he said. “It was a very good meeting.”

According to Dobkin, the station will be monitored remotely at all times and could be shut down remotely if necessary.

Company staff will inspect the station daily.

Construction is set begin in early 2017.

“Pending all permitting approvals, we anticipate the compressor station to be completed by the end of the first quarter,” Dobkin stated.