CENTER TWP — A meeting will be held Thursday to discuss the placement of natural gas wells and related activities in areas that could put children at risk.

The meeting, hosted by Marcellus Outreach Butler (MOB), will be at 7 p.m. at the house at 131 Spring Run Road.

Raina Ripple, executive director of the Southwest PA Environmental Health Project, will speak.

One of two permitted wells on the pad that XTO Energy began developing in January near Summit Elementary School in the Butler School District was flared this month, according to Marcellus Outreach Butler.

The well is 900 feet from the school and 500 feet from its athletic fields, MOB added.

Another well pad with four permitted wells is within one-half mile of the school, according to MOB. There already are 16 existing wells within 1.6 miles of the school, MOB said.

Additionally, MOB said, XTO plans to place another well pad near Moraine Elementary School in the Slippery Rock School District.