In Darlington Township, It’s Bats Vs. Drillers
A zoning official in Darlington Township, Beaver County, says Chesapeake can’t drill for natural gas on a farm that doubles as a habitat for bats.
But as the Post-Gazette reports, Chesapeake “is continuing with construction” anyway:
A Beaver County township has ordered a halt to shale gas drilling on a farm that is also a habitat for bats, saying that it violates local zoning rules.
The gas company, Chesapeake Appalachia, disputes the township’s cease-and-desist order and continues work on the well.
Darlington zoning officer Jeffrey A. Frye on Friday wrote to Chesapeake, claiming that it had not been granted a conditional use application to drill on the property of Robert McRoberts and family.
He continued that it “is hereby ordered that all earth moving activity associated with the construction of the … site must immediately cease and desist to avoid further action.”
A Chesapeake representative responded that the company “is continuing with construction of the project” because it believes that its application for a conditional use entitles it to drill, even if the application was not granted.
