Harrisburg – The
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has submitted a proposal
for an additional hearing to provide more opportunity for public input
on an Application for Gas Well Spacing Units, or spacing order, received
from Hilcorp Energy Company for gas well spacing units in Lawrence and
Mercer counties.
“DEP
is advocating for a public input process that is as open, accessible
and transparent as possible,” DEP Deputy Secretary Scott Perry said.
“This is the first-ever spacing order application for an unconventional
shale gas well, and it is very important to DEP that Pennsylvanians have
the opportunity to have their voices heard and comments considered.”
DEP’s
proposal was submitted to the assigned hearing officer, who is
responsible for determining the process for the hearing and procedure by
which public comment will be received. The hearing officer will preside
over the hearing and ultimately submit a recommended decision on the
application to DEP Secretary Chris Abruzzo for consideration.
If
adopted as proposed, the public hearing would be in addition to the
administrative hearing already scheduled and advertised for March 25 and
26 in New Castle. Operating much like a trial, DEP proposed that the
scheduled administrative hearing accept testimony from DEP, Hilcorp and
their respective witnesses, as well as royalty owners and other
operators within the area subject to the prospective spacing order.
DEP has also requested that the administrative hearing be held in a larger space that can accommodate up to 500 people.
While
the scheduled administrative hearing will be open for the general
public to attend, due to the significant public interest in this spacing
order, DEP proposed that an additional public hearing be scheduled to
accept written and verbal testimony from all interested persons.
If
adopted as proposed, testimony received during the additional public
hearing will be considered by the hearing officer prior to making a
recommended decision on Hilcorp’s application.
Hilcorp
Energy Company is applying for a well spacing application that
establishes four gas well drilling units on 3,267 acres to drill into
the Utica Shale Formation in Pulaski Township, Lawrence County and
Shenango Township, Mercer County.
Under
the Oil and Gas Conservation Act of 1961, when a spacing order
application is submitted, an administrative hearing must be held prior
to entering an order establishing well spacing and drilling units. The
hearing officer presiding over this matter was selected and assigned by
the Office of General Counsel and appointed by Secretary Abruzzo.
DEP
fulfilled its statutory requirement by issuing a public notice about
the administrative hearing two weeks prior to the hearing in local
newspapers. Although not required by statute, DEP also sent letters to
more than 200 property owners in the area covered by Hilcorp’s
application.
The
scheduled administrative hearing will be held on March 25 and March 26
at the Lawrence County Government Center in New Castle, beginning at 10
a.m. and 8 a.m., respectively.
To view DEP’s proposal, visit www.dep.state.pa.us
and click on “Oil and Gas,” “Office of Oil and Gas Management” and then
“Conservation Law.” Pennsylvanians looking for more information should
call 717-772-2199.
