CLINTON TWP — The pipeline company building a gas compressor station off Westminster Road on Wednesday tried to allay residents’ fears about the project.

During an evening presentation at the township building, Superior Appalachian Pipeline representatives described the plan for a station with seven compressors at the 20-acre site.

Garrett Mehl, Superior engineering manager, said the company is taking multiple steps to muffle noise that would come from the equipment.

“We’re trying to be the best neighbor we can,” Mehl said.

He explained only 7 acres of the property at 275 Westminster Road was developed to provide a buffer between the station and the surrounding residences.

Some of the 21 residents at the meeting expressed concern there was insufficient buffer for the west side of the site.

Ken Magyar, vice president of project development for Superior, said trees were planted there. However, Magyar said fill was pushed there, so a large mound could not be placed on that side.

The company standard to limit noise is 60 decibels 250 feet from a station.

Two buildings will be erected to house the compressors. Mehl said the final design of the 30-to-40-foot high structures, which can be up to 220 feet if housing five compressors, isn’t set.

“The buildings are not ordered yet,” he said.

Construction, which will start within a month, will occur six days a week between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

The facility will be manned during the day and have constant remote monitoring. Automatic shutdown procedures will be programmed electronically.

Residents said they were leary about a new station being built in their neighborhood after another one built by EQT at 239 Westminster Road has been a problem.

Township officials previously said EQT has made modifications, including a wall erected on the back of the north side of the property to address noise complaints.

Resident Sandy Novotny told Superior representatives they were the “bad guys” in her eyes.

“You are destroying every aspect of our lives,” Novotny said.

She cited numerous issues, including noise, emissions and vibrations, that accompany such facilities.

Novotny accused township Supervisor Kathy Allen of putting residents in this position by selling the property to Superior.

However, Allen said her relative, not her, owned and sold the land.

“I got no money from these gentlemen,” she said, referring to Superior personnel.

She also stressed the project was approved by the township in 2013 before she took office.

Allen said the supervisors and township planning commission are in the process of crafting amendments to the zoning ordinance to address concerns about the gas and oil industry.

“You have to understand we’re your advocate,” she told the residents.

Supervisor Ed Boyd, board chairman, agreed, saying Clinton wasn’t prepared for the onset of natural gas drilling and related development.

“What we’re doing now is trying to catch up,” Boyd said.

He suggested Superior conduct a public tour of the facility when construction is complete.

Mehl said a tour might be possible, but it would have to occur before the station is operational.