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Front Runner Seismic pitches seismic testing to Canfield Twp.
By Susan Tebben
CANFIELD
Representatives of Front Runner Seismic Inc. presented the geological testing company’s project to township trustees Tuesday night, saying they would test in only a part of the township.
Adam Ellis and Dave Wallitt showed trustees a map and answered their questions about damage, effect and bonding involved in doing seismic tests with trucks, in-ground detectors and helicopters in the northwest portion of the township.
“We would only be testing in a small part of your township since you are at the very edge of the seismic shoot,” Ellis said.
The map included Gibson and Barrington roads, Grayson and a portion of South Turner below Herbert Road, as well as a majority of the Summer Wind housing development. Because of the amount of housing in the area, trustees were not sure whether the 300-foot buffer around properties that Front Runner requires would be possible.
“I think we would all like to talk to the [Mahoning] County Engineer on it,” said Trustee Marie Izzo Cartwright. “I think it’s important that we all be educated about this.”
The geologic testing that Front Runner does identifies deep layers of shale gas below ground to get information for companies looking for mineral and gas deposits. The company uses different methods, including burying 2.2 to 3 pounds of charges into the ground and using trucks that send vibrations into roads and helicopters, to collect information.
“The trucks don’t weigh much more than a dump truck,” Ellis said. “We are also able to turn the frequency up and down on [the trucks] if we need to.”
The company will be approaching individual landowners about obtaining surface permits for testing. Ellis and Wallitt said they are requesting townships they have approached to bond the work they do, and Front Runner takes responsibility for any damage that might occur.
Front Runner has obtained 70 percent of the permits it needs to do the testing in the 140-square-mile project area. The project start date is based on when the rest of the permits are obtained.