Concerns Growing Over Possibility Of More Drilling

The Marcellus Shale industry is booming across the state of Pennsylvania. 

In Brockway, a well was drilled within the watershed in February. Officials said now the company that drilled the well is hoping to drill another within the watershed. 

Flatirons Development LLC is based out of Denver, Colorado. Officials said they are the company that drilled a well in Horton Township. 

Bob Ging, the attorney representing the Brockway Municipal Authority, said local officials do not want to see another well in the watershed. 

Ging said well pad #6, which was drilled in February, created problems within the watershed. He added that the drilling of the well intercepted the aquifer that supplies water to a borough well. 

According to Ging, that aquifer forms the basis of water supply in the borough. 

Ging told 6 News that was not the only problem. 

He said that between February and April 2011, the turbidity in the aquifer increased a great deal. He also said that a sufficient amount of cement used to drill a hole into the aquifer was released into the aquifer. 

Ging said that after that situation, neither the drilling company  nor DEP addressed the concerns of the impacts on the aquifer.

In a phone interview with 6 News, Ging said that Flatirons has submitted a permit to drill yet another well within the watershed. 

In an effort to help Brockway, Ging wrote an objection letter to DEP on behalf of the Brockway Municipal Authority. 

Ging noted the first well was drilled 600 feet away from the water supply and that it is simply too close. 

More than 2,000 customers rely on the water from the reservoir within the watershed, said Ging. 

He and the municipal authority are hoping their voices will be heard. 

Flatirons Development told 6 News that they are not out there to cause grief. They stated that "they are complying with all rules and regulations." 

Flatirons said they do not have an update on the status of the permit application.