Fort Cherry Superitendent sends out letter about gas drilling
Fort Cherry School Board plans to enter into a non-surface lease with Texas-based Range Resources, according to a letter Superintendent Robert Dinnen sent to parents and residents this week.
The board tabled a vote on the lease Monday. Financial and other terms of the lease are not yet finalized, according to Dinnen’s letter.
The board has maintained three principles about gas wells: no surface drilling on school property, addressing environmental and safety concerns from drilling on adjacent property and exploring non-surface drilling for financial benefit, according to the letter.
A non-surface lease would allow horizontal drilling under district property and would take place from a surface well on an adjacent property, about one-half mile from the school.
Dinnen said in the letter that school officials have been working with governmental agencies and company officials to make the school as safe as possible.
He said four areas of safety are being addressed. Crisis drills and training with first responders and educational sessions with industry experts in the event of an accident are being planned. Annually, students and staff will participate in crisis drills.
Drilling companies have been asked to mitigate noise and traffic problems, especially during school hours, Dinnen said, adding that they have been cooperative.
The district has contacted the state Department of Environmental Protection for water testing. DEP officials indicate the school water is safe in regards to drilling, the letter states.
There are also plans to have air quality tested and monitored, Dinnen said. Air quality monitoring in the area is already taking place and the DEP has indicated results should be available in about a month, he said.
He said more water and air quality testing will take place and that Range has indicated that drilling will not take place at the property adjacent to the school for at least a few months.
Join the Observer-Reporter’s conversation about education at our blog at http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/behinddesk/
The board tabled a vote on the lease Monday. Financial and other terms of the lease are not yet finalized, according to Dinnen’s letter.
The board has maintained three principles about gas wells: no surface drilling on school property, addressing environmental and safety concerns from drilling on adjacent property and exploring non-surface drilling for financial benefit, according to the letter.
A non-surface lease would allow horizontal drilling under district property and would take place from a surface well on an adjacent property, about one-half mile from the school.
Dinnen said in the letter that school officials have been working with governmental agencies and company officials to make the school as safe as possible.
He said four areas of safety are being addressed. Crisis drills and training with first responders and educational sessions with industry experts in the event of an accident are being planned. Annually, students and staff will participate in crisis drills.
Drilling companies have been asked to mitigate noise and traffic problems, especially during school hours, Dinnen said, adding that they have been cooperative.
The district has contacted the state Department of Environmental Protection for water testing. DEP officials indicate the school water is safe in regards to drilling, the letter states.
There are also plans to have air quality tested and monitored, Dinnen said. Air quality monitoring in the area is already taking place and the DEP has indicated results should be available in about a month, he said.
He said more water and air quality testing will take place and that Range has indicated that drilling will not take place at the property adjacent to the school for at least a few months.
Join the Observer-Reporter’s conversation about education at our blog at http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/behinddesk/
Labels: Fort Cherry gas wells
posted by Dawn Keller at
7:48 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home