Mission: communication

Statewide gas task force being formed to help townships

By TOM KANE

HONESDALE, PA — Two Pennsylvania municipal associations are collaborating to establish communication links between the gas drilling companies and townships where drilling is, or will be, in operation.

Brian Smith, chairman of the Wayne County Commissioners, announced on October 28 that a statewide task force, aimed at improving communication, was being formed.

“The County Commissioners of Pennsylvania (CCAP) is spearheading this effort, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS),” Smith said.

“The aim is not to control or regulate the companies but to find out, for example, where and when they will begin drilling, what roads they will use, what they will do about protecting the condition of our roads, where they will withdraw the water—things like that,” he said.

Jeff Dexter, the chairman of the Damascus Township Supervisors, has been invited to help form the task force.

“I’m not sure of any of the details about the task force,” Dexter said. “I was contacted by the vice president of PSATS who invited me to join and said he would send me more detailed information in the mail.”

Dexter was told that the group forming the task force would be small— three or four county commissioners, two or three township supervisors and some CCAP or PSATS staff.

Damascus Township has been discussing the need for a more direct line of communication information about gas drilling issues that affect the township and advocated that a task force be formed on the county level.

The Wayne County Commissioners have been reluctant to do so.

“The formation of a statewide task force like this is a much better way to go,” Smith said.

Bradford and Susquehanna counties have each formed a task force, according to Harry Forbes, a Pike County Commissioner.

Details of the exact aim and nature of the task force will be released as time goes on, Smith said.