JACKSON TWP — A new expansion to MarkWest Energy was unanimously given final approval by the township supervisors Thursday evening.

The Bluestone 3 de-ethanizer gas compressor plant is planned for a mid-2017 completion, MarkWest special projects manager Rob McHale said.

“I think that we have worked very cooperatively as developer and municipality to arrive at a very good project that satisfies our needs and the township’s needs,” McHale said.

MarkWest currently has 14,000 barrels per day of de-ethanization capacity which is transported via pipeline.

The new de-ethanizer planned for between Hartmann Road and the facility’s rail yard will add to that with 34,000 barrels per day of capacity.

The company takes natural gas from Marcellus Shale wells and strips out certain byproducts, such as ethane.

Features for the de-ethanizer plant include refrigeration compression buildings, a cooling fan substation and a motor control center, among others.

The pipe used to transport gas connects to Sunoco in North Beaver Township in Lawrence County, which then connects to the Sunoco Mariner West pipeline to Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.

“Think about all the products we use on a daily basis,” McHale said to supervisors. “People don’t really think about where they come from.

“The antifreeze for your car is ethylene glycol and started as an ethane molecule and was converted to ethylene and mixed with glycol. The grocery bags that we all use are low-density polyethylene. The list goes on and on.”

As part of the approval, MarkWest has agreed to build a 12-foot-by-16-foot metal enclosure over nearby Goehring Pond and replace a pump to act as a water source. The diesel-powered pump will be able to move 4,000 gallons of water per minute if needed.

McHale said MarkWest representatives have spoken with members of the Harmony Fire District regarding the pond.

Fire officials previously expressed concern about MarkWest supplying its own water rather than using a dry hydrant located at the pond.

Township officials said talks are ongoing regarding installing a public water line on Swain Hill.

The company has about 2 million gallons of fire water in tanks in the facility’s rail yard.

“Throughout all of this, we’ve tried to be beneficial for us, for the municipality and the fire department,” McHale said. “I think through working cooperatively, we’ve arrived at something that benefits all parties.”

The time frame of the enclosure’s completion is unknown.

Trent Geis, supervisors president, said the expansion is another example of the township’s growth in business developments.

“We’re happy with the ways things are going,” Geis said. “We just want to continue to see growth so we can see improved roads and intersections to make the township a safer place to live.”

“We are trying to do the best we can do to keep the residents of the township happy, keep noise levels to a minimum and continue to allow the business to flourish,” Geis added.