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PennDOT confirmed to The Wayne Independent that natural gas drilling activity in Oregon ownship caused damage to three roads here, requiring considerable repairs.
Chesapeake Appalachia, a major industry player, is drilling its first natural gas well in Wayne County, off Fox Hill Road in the township.
Last Thursday, The Wayne Independent visited the site, finding two heavy equipment haulers, one loaded with large-reinforced steel pipes, parked on a cleared, drill pad.
Driving to the site that day, Fox Hill Road was smashed to pieces in some spots in one lane for about a half-mile stretch, creating a quilt work of rubble.
“That was a result of the hauling the gas company did,” said Karen Dussinger, PennDOT spokesperson, in a phone interview on Friday. “And they are doing all the (repair) work.”
“Chesapeake takes responsibility whenever our operations cause serious impacts to local roads,” said Brian Grove, the company’s director of corporate development.
A PennDOT inspector determined that the company was responsible for the damage, said Dussinger. PennDOT and Chesapeake Appalachia later negotiated a road repair agreement.
“All we asked of them that they returned the road to the condition it was or better,” she said.
Chesapeake Appalachia agreed to pay for all the repair work, which would be performed by a company it contracted out.
“We work proactively and cooperatively with PennDOT and local governments ... to ensure that impacts are minimized, roads remain passable and safe, and that roads are left at least as good as they were when we began operating in an area,” said Grove. “Our work requires the use of trucks and heavy equipment and some road impacts are inevitable.
Wayne County PennDOT Manager Ted Zurla said Pikes Creek Site Contractors, of Luzerne County, began repairs earlier this week.
PennDOT confirmed to The Wayne Independent that natural gas drilling activity in Oregon ownship caused damage to three roads here, requiring considerable repairs.
Chesapeake Appalachia, a major industry player, is drilling its first natural gas well in Wayne County, off Fox Hill Road in the township.
Last Thursday, The Wayne Independent visited the site, finding two heavy equipment haulers, one loaded with large-reinforced steel pipes, parked on a cleared, drill pad.
Driving to the site that day, Fox Hill Road was smashed to pieces in some spots in one lane for about a half-mile stretch, creating a quilt work of rubble.
“That was a result of the hauling the gas company did,” said Karen Dussinger, PennDOT spokesperson, in a phone interview on Friday. “And they are doing all the (repair) work.”
“Chesapeake takes responsibility whenever our operations cause serious impacts to local roads,” said Brian Grove, the company’s director of corporate development.
A PennDOT inspector determined that the company was responsible for the damage, said Dussinger. PennDOT and Chesapeake Appalachia later negotiated a road repair agreement.
“All we asked of them that they returned the road to the condition it was or better,” she said.
Chesapeake Appalachia agreed to pay for all the repair work, which would be performed by a company it contracted out.
“We work proactively and cooperatively with PennDOT and local governments ... to ensure that impacts are minimized, roads remain passable and safe, and that roads are left at least as good as they were when we began operating in an area,” said Grove. “Our work requires the use of trucks and heavy equipment and some road impacts are inevitable.
Wayne County PennDOT Manager Ted Zurla said Pikes Creek Site Contractors, of Luzerne County, began repairs earlier this week.
