SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — The Slippery Rock School Board will begin looking into a lease for some of its property for Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling.

Two weeks ago, a representative from XTO Energy told the school board that the company is proposing a well pad off Route 528 near Moraine Elementary School and was inquiring if the district would be interested in leasing some property.

On Monday, district solicitor Mike Hnath said he wanted to know if the board is interested in looking into a lease. He said the board did not have to approve anything that night, but needed to say it was interested in learning more.

Board member Kirby Lotz said the board should examine leasing.

“I think we have to look at the whole thing before we make a decision,” Lotz said.

Board member Diana Wolak agreed: “I think we have to look at it.”

She asked if the district had any rights to make certain demands.

Hnath said he did not think there is a whole lot the district could demand. He also said he did not think XTO would have a problem respecting the district’s wishes if it chooses not to lease.

Jason Bell, a Slippery Rock High School alumnus, asked the board to reject any lease, saying that there are “well known and documented” risks with oil and gas development.

He said that the state Department of Environmental Protection shows 161 cases of water contamination due to oil and gas development. He also claimed that XTO has 230 DEP violations in the state, including 12 in Butler County.

Bell encouraged the district to look into what liability it would have if a problem occurs and what its insurance policy says about leasing and drilling.

“Please, please do your due diligence when considering a lease,” Bell said.

Lotz asked Bell about the information he had and said that he would look up additional information about pollutants.

The board did not vote on any drilling action.