Perry Township residents learn about seismic survey work
PERRY TWP. — Township residents had a chance to learn more about seismic survey work related to Marcellus shale drilling from a surveyor doing the job.
“We’re trying to be proactive, get ahead of it a bit,” said township supervisor A.J. Boni recently to a group of about 25 people gathered at the township’s fire hall.
Many of the folks had received a letter announcing McDonald Land Services’ plans to conduct a geologic survey on behalf of Chevron Appalachia LLC.
“This whole situation – I got to know more about it,” said Ron Matway of Perryopolis.
McDonald Land Services of Lemont Furnace has conducted survey work all over Fayette County in recent months. The company doesn’t have anything to do with gas pipelines or drilling.
“We are here to provide fact-based knowledge,” said Rod White of McDonald Land Services during his presentation detailing the survey work.
Geological survey maps show natural gas companies the best places to drill. The maps would not only take into account topography, but structures and other considerations. The process involves five stages: permit, mapping, survey, drilling and recording.
“Chevron is committed to doing things right,” Mikal Ann Zimmerman, a public affairs representative for Chevron. “It always takes the time to do things right. Chevron will take time right to get things right.”
Testing sends sound waves into the ground so as to map out the natural gas potential. Meter readers monitor the vibrations to ensure there is no damage to utilities and structures. Drilling involves detonating low-grade explosives 30 feet underground in places 300 feet or more from structures or affected places such as water wells or springs used as a water source for homes or businesses.
Matway said he lives in a 200-year-old stone house overlooking his family’s 180-acre cattle farm on French Island Road. He had questions about whether the vibrations from seismic testing would affect his home and how fracking and more may affect the water supply for his herd of cattle.
“We are wondering if the gas companies can be trusted based on everything we’ve heard and read in the newspaper,” he said. “We don’t want the companies coming in and messing up our property underneath or on top. I’m worried (about) our house, our cattle, the whole situation. That is our resource. That’s the way I see it.”
Residents do not have to allow company representatives — seismic meter readers — onto their property, Zimmerman said.
Sarah Sickle, who lives in the township, said she did not give anyone permission to do survey work on her property, but she has discovered survey stakes on the township road’s right-of-way adjacent to her property.
Sickle said the township only owns the right-of-way, not the mineral rights which belong to whoever owns that property. She doesn’t want McDonald Land Services to take this information and sell it unless that property owner gets a stipend.
Sickle questioned why, if McDonald Land Services does not have a permit to do that survey work, should they be able to take that information over someone’s objections.
Zimmerman countered that if McDonald Land Services does not have permission to go on someone’s land, the company will not do survey work on that property.
“We do things legally,” she said.
Kathryn Hilton of Mountain Watershed Association questioned Chevron’s commitment to environmental safety, noting that the company had numerous violations issued by the state Department of Environmental Protection. The association is an environmental advocacy group committed to sound environmental practices, according to the organization’s website.
“Many of these violations are hazardous for human health,” Hilton said after the meeting. “So I question Chevron’s commitment to doing it right.”
In March, Masontown borough council heard from residents who complained that McDonald Land Services conducted seismic testing without notifying the borough or affected property owners. Some residents complained of vibrations that shook their houses.
During that council meeting, Zimmerman said, “The way this came out was not the Chevron way. Chevron is committed to improving communication with the borough going forward.”
White apologized to residents at that meeting and pledged to better inform property owners about seismic survey work.
Since then, Chevron and McDonald Land Services have had informational meetings in various townships in Fayette County.
Hilton said the association is hosting two workshops to provide citizens with the tools needed to learn more about with Marcellus shale gas activity. The first workshop will be June 14 at the Fayette County Fairground and the second will be June 18 at the Fayette County Career and Technical Institute. For more information, see the association’s website mtwatershed.com.
“These meetings will be informative because we need to be aware of what is going on around us,” Hilton said. “Having access to reliable information is critical to understanding what shale gas development is doing in our region.”