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Trumbull officials OK road-use agreement
Warren
Trumbull County commissioners approved unanimously Wednesday a road-use management agreement that would place on drilling companies the responsibility of repairing damage to local roads used for hauling drilling equipment.
Mark Finamore, who is legal counsel for several communities in the county as well as the Ohio Township Association, said drilling companies would have to pay up-front for infrastructure repairs, maintenance and upgrades if needed, during well construction instead of local governments battling the companies for repairs after they leave.
It also will provide a blanket standard for all non-state or federal roads in the county, Finamore said.
“It will allow more rapid processing for the industry,” he said. “If we standardize things, these companies — whether it be city, village or township roads — know the standards are the same.”
The approval comes only a day after BP announced a collective land lease in Trumbull County worth $331 million and within weeks of CONSOL Energy/CNX Gas Corp. of Pittsburgh beginning oil and gas drilling along Warren-Sharon Road in Vienna Township. The county estimates that up to 3,000 vehicles will travel to that Vienna site during the three-month construction period.
Trumbull County Commissioner Frank Fuda said the agreement also will improve many roads that are now in bad condition but are located where companies want to drill.
“They’re going to have to replace many of the roads to get to the well sites,” he said.
Fred Hanley, Hubbard Township trustee, called the road-use maintenance agreement “critical.”
“Why should local governments have to bear the burden of taking care of the roads after they leave?” Hanley said. “These companies pull in billions. They should be able to set aside some for local-government infrastructure.”
After the commission meeting, Trumbull County Engineer Randy Smith conducted a meeting with local government leaders from around the county.
At that meeting, attorneys and county officials who worked to develop the maintenance agreement cautioned the leaders to be exhaustive with documenting the conditions of roads before any of the drilling begins.
“It’s important that the appropriate engineer of the [municipality] give a good look,” Finamore said.