Supervisors hear complaints on well operations
CUMBERLAND TWP. – Nesmith Road resident Emmett McKenzie asked township supervisors on Monday to address road and noise problems created by gas drilling and well operations. McKenzie, who regularly brings complaints about gas wells to the board, asked the supervisors if they could require gas companies to install aprons where well site access roads meet public roads to keep rocks and mud off public roads?
Supervisors said they could make gas companies install aprons and the companies are required to dig ditches to keep runoff off roadways.
Noise and lights from a well site near the South Fork of Muddy Creek can be heard at his home late at night, McKenzie said.
Work at the well also has left a film on McKenzie’s car, he said.
William Groves, chairman of the board of supervisors, said he can hear noise from wells in Carmichaels at night, even though the closest well is about four miles away, and at his home.
He said he didn’t know if the supervisors could do anything about the noise.
McKenzie suggested requiring gas companies to install noise barrier walls when they are drilling wells.
Groves said those barriers are expensive and he doubts the gas companies would build them.
In other business, the supervisors:
n Upgraded the vision coverage in the employees’ health insurance and approved higher costs. Rates for vision coverage will increase from $4.53 per month for a single employee to $5.97 and from $13.14 for more than one person to $17.31.
n Announced that residents can turn in unused or expired medication for safe disposal at the municipal building from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 25. Township police will dispose of the medication.
n Hired the Wright Agency Inc. to audit all township accounts.