MONTICELLO – There are no known active natural gas drilling operations in Sullivan County, yet, but the prospect has lawmakers concerned.  They want to stop a problem before it happens.

Drilling companies are known to be approaching property owners in Sullivan County, and across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.

County Manager David Fanslau said they are aware of attempts by gas companies to get people to sign into agreements for drilling on their property. 

County Planner Dr. William Pammer noted in a presentation that the financial incentive to allow gas drilling is high, but, the operation is invasive.  A 2½ acre plot is needed for each well.  Drilling rigs could be as high as 140 feet.  Once in operation, a diesel engine could run 24/7.

Several citizens attending the Planning, Environmental Management and Real Property Committee meeting voiced concern about the potential for unchecked gas exploration.

Sullivan Renaissance Program Director Glenn Pontier didn’t speak, saying he was there to “learn”.

“We run a beautification program, so our concern is a little tangential, but we are also concerned about the environment, and so we were here to learn.”

The general consensus among legislators attending the meeting was to come up with something quickly.

Republican Leni Binder is not ruling out a temporary moratorium to give the county, and its municipalities, time to come up with reasonable guidelines.

“So there are a lot of environmental issues.  There’s protection issues for the people.  There’s protection issues for the neighbors.  Current laws don’t require you to notify anybody more than so many feet away, but if somebody has a drilling rig and big trucks coming in, it’s going to affect the property of the whole town.”

Republican Alan Sorenson stressed the importance of having a similar and consistent standard in all towns.

Fanslau said if the legislature developed a “model ordinance” that would give them a handle on “what’s going to happen with property rights, and what is the environmental impact if these drilling operations take place”.