CHANGING REGULATIONS Boardman officials unhappy about location of gas wells

Drilling has begun on the first well requested.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Gas wells are beginning to show up closer to residential communities here, and officials say they are not happy about it.
Ohio House Bill 278 became law in September, granting state officials the exclusive right to regulate the permitting, location and spacing of oil and gas wells in the state.
Before H.B. 278, state officials regulated the wells in conjunction with local governments. Those seeking permits to drill gas wells were required to submit a sworn statement to the state ensuring that all local regulations would be satisfied.
Township zoning inspector Darren Crivelli said the township, since the early '90s, has had zoning regulations governing the placement of gas wells.
He said the township's regulations did not allow gas wells to be placed in residential districts where the housing density is greater than 1.9 units per acre.
"For the most part, the effect of that was that it kept gas well drilling out of the neighborhoods. That regulation had the most impact on gas wells in the township, and we have now lost that," he said.
As a manifestation of the new regulations, Crivelli points to an oil and gas well currently being drilled on Tippecanoe Road by Everflow Eastern Inc. of Canfield in conjunction with Ohio Valley Energy Systems Corp. of Austintown.
The surface of the well is located a short distance from Sharon and Barbie drives with its bottom under homes on Suzylinn Avenue, Windel Way and Loretta Drive.
What causes concern
Crivelli said the well, because of its proximity to homes, is exactly what officials here do not want to see but now have no power to stop.
"In years past, we would not allow this well because it would not meet the density requirement," Crivelli said.
According to Crivelli, the Tippecanoe well is the first request since the law took effect. Another request will be made soon, he said, and he anticipates several more.
Dave Matak, president of Ohio Valley Energy, said the township has just under 120 gas wells, and he thinks only a few more could be drilled profitably in the township.
"There are going to be a few wells drilled in Boardman that would have been restricted by Boardman's old regulations, but it's not going to be 30 or 40 wells. You would be lucky to drill a half-dozen or so."
Crivelli said township officials are concerned about the safety of residents with wells being drilled so close to homes. He also said there is a lesser concern over noise with the closer proximity to the houses.
Matak said the new state regulations are good in that regulations regarding the wells are streamlined and centralized with the state. Those drilling the wells, he said, no longer have to adhere to varying regulations in each jurisdiction.
Matak said the regulations are also good in that people living in a given neighborhood decide whether they want the gas wells drilled. Applicants are required to notify those living within 500 feet of the well, and majority rules on whether the well is drilled or not.
"I have always been of the belief that the people should decide if they want a gas well in their neighborhood," he said. "If the people don't want it, there is no well. If the people want it, then the well goes in."
According to Matak, all those living in the vicinity of the Tippecanoe well have been notified and he is not aware of any objections to the drilling. He said his company has obtained lease agreements with most of the homeowners in the vicinity of the well being drilled.
jgoodwin@vindy.com