Vote on Upper Burrell injection well rules could come soon

A decision on Upper Burrell’s proposed injection well ordinance could come within the next month, said township supervisors Chairman Ross G. Walker III.

“There’s more information we want to consider,” Walker said.

“We’ll take most everything into consideration if it’s positive and if it keeps us from passing an ordinance that’s not an excellent ordinance.”

Upper Burrell supervisors in December decided they wanted to draft regulations and rules for injection wells that would allow them as a conditional use in industrial-zoned areas in the township only.

An injection well helps place fluids underground in rock formations like limestone or sandstone. When gas companies drill using fracking, millions of gallons of water are pushed at high pressure into the ground to release natural gas trapped in the layers of rock. Some drillers convert abandoned conventional gas wells into injection wells to dispose of that wastewater there.

A hearing on Upper Burrell’s proposed rules was held in July. About 35 residents attended the meeting and those who spoke asked the board to implement stricter rules than what they were considering so the township does not become attractive for injection wells.

An outright ban of injection wells is unconstitutional, Solicitor Steve Yakopec said previously.

At the supervisors’ meeting this week, the board tabled the proposal again, Walker said.

“We got some late information in and decided to table it,” Walker said. “We’re trying to fine-tune the ordinance and make it better.”

Township officials have said they want to implement the rules to be preventative.

Feedback from residents from the July public hearing has included: considering implementing a 500-foot setback, implementing a permit application fee and a fee for approved permits that helps finance compliance inspections by the township, such as checking what is being transported to the site.

Additional comments included a spot manifest compliance check-in and inspection for transported materials and that information being recorded; providing monthly logs to the township that includes volumes and any spills or adverse events; requiring new liners and inspecting liners for wells being used for injection; limiting hours and days permissible for transporting and depositing at wells; and water testing pre- and post-well use at the contractor’s cost.

Walker said he anticipates voting on the proposal at the supervisors’ meeting Sept. 3 or at a special meeting before.