Gas Drilling Showdown Next Door Postponed

The hearing for Range Resources' challenge against South Fayette's drilling ordinance was postponed until November.

The attorney representing the township, Jonathan Kamin, filed three motions at the Wednesday night hearing in front of the zoning board.

Kamin first asked for two of three zoning board members to recuse themselves from the hearing. The men are said to have leases with Range Resources. Kamin also asked for the alternate zoning board member to recuse himself.

"We believe that three of four zoning board members have a conflict of interest in the hearing," Kamin said. "It's the only way to have a fair and impartial hearing on this matter."

Kenneth Komoroski, attorney for Range Resources, said, "We consider this board to be fair and impartial...You check your personal interests at the door as the board routinely has."

Kamin filed two more motions on behalf of the township requesting the board quash the challenge. Kamin said Range Resources is not a landowner.

"It's contractual," Kamin said.

Kamin also said Range Resources has not filed the proper application to proceed.

Following the motions, the zoning board took a 15 minute executive session to be counseled and decided to postpone the hearing until Nov. 9. They gave Range Resources 15 days to provide a written response to each of the motions. Range Resources and the township agreed to extend the time frame for the zoning board to make their decision.

Residents concerned about the Range Resources' challenge to the township's ordinance filled the South Fayette Middle School's auditorium on Wednesday night. The public will be given a chance to testify at the next hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 9.

Range Resources, a major Marcellus Shale natural gas company, . The document contends that the company is “being deprived of its legal right to develop its oil and natural gas property interests.” Range contends that portions of the ordinance are pre-empted by state law, and that the township is acting outside its authority by restricting oil and natural gas drilling activity through various conditions.

In Washington County, over its recently approved conditional-use ordinance governing Marcellus Shale drilling. Township Manager Don Gennuso confirmed Wednesday that the company had filed suit, claiming Cecil had not properly advertised its meetings, among other concerns.

In Upper St. Clair, there are 13 gas wells within the township and seven more have been plugged over the years, according to Township Manager Matthew Serakowski. There are no active requests from Marcellus Shale drilling to drill in the township.