Chevron Tells PA Town No Plans to Drill – For Now

A representative from Chevron told Logan Township supervisors and residents at a meeting on Thursday that Chevron has no plans to drill on a Logan site for which they previously received a permit. Logan is located in Blair County, near Altoona, PA. The permit expires today and Chevron said there are no plans, at present, to apply for a new one.

"Chevron at this time has no plans to pursue a new permit or to renew the permit that is existing," Mikal Zimmerman, a Chevron policy, government and public affairs representative said. "And there are no plans anticipated through the end of the year for activity on our behalf in Logan Township."

Area residents asked supervisors to consider actions that will put some controls on an industry prompting environmental concerns and criticism.

Supervisor Frank Meloy pledged to monitor Marcellus Shale-related developments and the township’s authority, which at this point is limited, with most of the control handled by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Under Act 13, the state legislation governing Marcellus Shale drilling, municipalities have limited authority, township solicitor Daniel Stants said.

The act is facing a court challenge, but that "is going to take a while," Stants said.

Chevron expects to be working in Pennsylvania for decades and to maintain its heritage as one of the safest operators in the global industry, Zimmerman said.*

Why no plans to drill, even though they previously went to the expense of obtaining a permit? No doubt because that part of the Marcellus lies in the dry gas area and with the commodity price of natural gas still low, it just makes sense to wait.

*Altoona Mirror (May 11, 2012) – Chevron: No gas drilling this year