County debates seismic testing on public property
NORWICH – Should Chenango County permit natural gas companies to conduct seismographic testing on county-owned land?
That was the question posed during meetings that took place last week at the Chenango County Office Building. The company seeking approval, Norse Energy, Inc., has been allowed to cross several county highways in the past in order to collect data from leased, private land. Testing on county-owned land would be a first.
In its recent request, Norse would like to test a three-acre parcel off of county Rt. 10 adjacent to the intersection with county Rt. 18 in the Town of Preston. Seismographic testing involves detonating sound energy into test holes in the ground and recording the vibrations to sensors located on the surface. The data collected reveals the physical makeup of the subterranean landscape and, hopefully, the best place to drill.
Some Chenango County supervisors are calling for a policy that would require energy companies to obtain permission from neighboring property owners, if not give access to the data or compensation. Addressing both his own committee and the Public Works Committee last week, Chenango County Natural Gas Advisory Committee Chairman Peter C. Flanagan, D-Preston, asked, “Do we let them look under county property for nothing?”
“I’m saying its wrong,” he told members of Public Works. “Why should I give you confidential information that your are going to use to make money without giving me the results?”
Those who make up Flanagan’s advisory committee concurred. Chenango County Farm Bureau President Bradd Vickers offered a motion recommending the county refuse requests to test on county-owned land without just compensation and the permission of all adjacent property owners. The recommendation was referred to the Agriculture, Buildings and Grounds Committee. Coventry’s John Phelan seconded the motion.
Public Works Director Randy Gibbon said his only concern would be whether the gas company would take down and replace guiderails. He said companies were permitted to bore under roadways in the past after consultation with the county’s attorney. He said the decision to test on county land would be up to the attorney as well.
Chenango County Clerk of the Board RC Woodford said the county would look for a referral from the Natural Gas Advisory Committee before making a decision.
Developing a policy for requests to conduct seismic testing on county land is just one of several strategies the Natural Gas Advisory Committee has been discussing to try to maintain control over the abundant resource beneath the ground. Norse has drilled more than 40 wells in Smyrna alone since January 2008, and 30 more are planned in Plymouth, Preston and Coventry by the end of the year.
The committee discussed policies for road boring, road bonding, and water testing. It also requested consultation from the Chenango County Emergency Management Office regarding the location of pipelines and gathering lines. New Berlin Supervisor Ross Iannello said highway crews need to know where the lines are for safety purposes when cleaning out culverts and ditches.
In addition, Chenango County’s Natural Gas Consultant Steven Palmatier made a motion to develop a prototype Referral For Proposal request should the county decide to offer its land to lease outright or as part of a compulsory integration order. Vickers seconded. The committee made the referral to the Planning and Economic Development Committee.
Gibbon said he disagreed that bonding was needed to protect county roads and questioned whether the effort would hold up in court. Citing no damages thus far, he said the truck traffic anticipated this spring wouldn’t be any heavier than the county road normally take. Only seasonal and town roads without foundations would be exposed to damages, he said.
“You can’t discriminate against industry anyway. What about road damages by farmers and loggers?” he said.
Members of the gas committee disagreed with Gibbon, however.
“Other counties see this as a whole different type of industry access,” said Vickers. New Berlin’s Iannello said his town’s bonding ordinance refers to activities “not normal and customary” and conducts road assessment surveys before and after truck traffic.
That was the question posed during meetings that took place last week at the Chenango County Office Building. The company seeking approval, Norse Energy, Inc., has been allowed to cross several county highways in the past in order to collect data from leased, private land. Testing on county-owned land would be a first.
In its recent request, Norse would like to test a three-acre parcel off of county Rt. 10 adjacent to the intersection with county Rt. 18 in the Town of Preston. Seismographic testing involves detonating sound energy into test holes in the ground and recording the vibrations to sensors located on the surface. The data collected reveals the physical makeup of the subterranean landscape and, hopefully, the best place to drill.
Some Chenango County supervisors are calling for a policy that would require energy companies to obtain permission from neighboring property owners, if not give access to the data or compensation. Addressing both his own committee and the Public Works Committee last week, Chenango County Natural Gas Advisory Committee Chairman Peter C. Flanagan, D-Preston, asked, “Do we let them look under county property for nothing?”
“I’m saying its wrong,” he told members of Public Works. “Why should I give you confidential information that your are going to use to make money without giving me the results?”
Those who make up Flanagan’s advisory committee concurred. Chenango County Farm Bureau President Bradd Vickers offered a motion recommending the county refuse requests to test on county-owned land without just compensation and the permission of all adjacent property owners. The recommendation was referred to the Agriculture, Buildings and Grounds Committee. Coventry’s John Phelan seconded the motion.
Public Works Director Randy Gibbon said his only concern would be whether the gas company would take down and replace guiderails. He said companies were permitted to bore under roadways in the past after consultation with the county’s attorney. He said the decision to test on county land would be up to the attorney as well.
Chenango County Clerk of the Board RC Woodford said the county would look for a referral from the Natural Gas Advisory Committee before making a decision.
Developing a policy for requests to conduct seismic testing on county land is just one of several strategies the Natural Gas Advisory Committee has been discussing to try to maintain control over the abundant resource beneath the ground. Norse has drilled more than 40 wells in Smyrna alone since January 2008, and 30 more are planned in Plymouth, Preston and Coventry by the end of the year.
The committee discussed policies for road boring, road bonding, and water testing. It also requested consultation from the Chenango County Emergency Management Office regarding the location of pipelines and gathering lines. New Berlin Supervisor Ross Iannello said highway crews need to know where the lines are for safety purposes when cleaning out culverts and ditches.
In addition, Chenango County’s Natural Gas Consultant Steven Palmatier made a motion to develop a prototype Referral For Proposal request should the county decide to offer its land to lease outright or as part of a compulsory integration order. Vickers seconded. The committee made the referral to the Planning and Economic Development Committee.
Gibbon said he disagreed that bonding was needed to protect county roads and questioned whether the effort would hold up in court. Citing no damages thus far, he said the truck traffic anticipated this spring wouldn’t be any heavier than the county road normally take. Only seasonal and town roads without foundations would be exposed to damages, he said.
“You can’t discriminate against industry anyway. What about road damages by farmers and loggers?” he said.
Members of the gas committee disagreed with Gibbon, however.
“Other counties see this as a whole different type of industry access,” said Vickers. New Berlin’s Iannello said his town’s bonding ordinance refers to activities “not normal and customary” and conducts road assessment surveys before and after truck traffic.
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