Consol sets public forum on drilling

Staff report

boardman

Consol Energy is hosting an event Thursday to discuss leasing, the drilling process and to answer other questions from the public.

The event is from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn at 7410 South Ave.

The meeting is a chance to address the typical concerns people have before a drilling operation begins in their area, said Lynn Seay, director of media relations for Consol, a Pittsburgh-based company that produces coal and natural gas.

In April, the company received the first permit from the state for a horizontal well in Trumbull County.

“We’ve learned a lot over our 150 years, and we’ve taken what we’ve learned in the coal industry and are using it for gas,” she said.

Consol has been working within the Marcellus Shale for the past three years and from that experience will provide information about how things will work locally, Seay said.

The key is to dispel some of the myths that exist in drilling operations, she said. Consol also will discuss safety procedures, construction, trailers moving onto the site and other common questions.

“We want people to have a clear view of what they can expect to see on each site,” Seay said.

The Boardman forum will be the fourth conducted by the company in Ohio, she said.

The goal for Consol is to minimize the potential surprises that could result from drilling activity. The company learned from its experiences in Pennsylvania that it is better to send in a team before drilling to speak to the community, Seay said.

The company will have a second information session at Leo’s Ristorante, 7042 E. Market St., Howland, from 4 to 7 p.m. May 22.