Dear RDA Members and Friends,
From the Scranton-Times Tribune:
Emergency responders at scene of explosion at natural gas compressor station
BY LAURA LEGERE (STAFF WRITER)
Published: March 29, 2012
Emergency responders from Susquehanna, Lackawanna and Wyoming counties have been called to an explosion at a natural gas compressor station in Springville Twp. where witnesses report grey and black smoke billowing from the complex.
Helen Humphreys, a spokeswoman for Williams, the company that operates the Lathrop compressor station, was traveling to the station at around 12:45 p.m. and could not characterize the incident, but said all employees and contractors on the site have been accounted for.
"Our first focus is going to be to contain and isolate the situation. They may already have been able to do that," she said.
Colleen Connolly, a spokeswoman for the Department of Environmental Protection, said regulators were alerted to the explosion at around 11:30 a.m. and are responding to the site.
There is a natural gas blow off from the site, she said. Chinchilla Hose Co. in South Abington Twp. has been called in to provide a foam material to help contain the gas and fire.
"They are trying right now to shut off the natural gas release valve," she said.
Susquehanna County Communication Center dispatchers and officials with the county Emergency Management Agency said they were too busy to provide details about the incident. Wyoming and Lackawanna county dispatchers called for fire companies to provide backup, but said information about the incident would have to be released by Susquehanna County.
Vera Scroggins, a critic of natural gas development, said she followed fire trucks to the Lathrop compressor station off Route 29, where gas from Marcellus Shale wells in the county is pressurized for transport through pipelines.
She said she could see "a black, dark grey smoke" coming from the middle of the complex, but no visible flames.
Fire crews were ringing the property and using a bucket to raise firefighters to get a better view of the structure enclosing the compressors, she said.
Check back for updates.
Read more: http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/emergency-responders-at-scene-of-explosion-at-natural-gas-compressor-station-1.1292502#ixzz1qX11eE1I
| The Fairfield Township Board of Supervisors will hold a Conditional Use Hearing at their regular scheduled meeting on April 2, 2012, beginning at 8:00 P.M. at the Fairfield Township Building, Fairfield Church Road, T543, Montoursville, PA. |
| Purpose of the hearing is to consider the request of PVR Marcellus Gas Gathering LLC to construct Compressor Station in a Residential / Agriculture zoned district of the Township |
| located on vacant wooded land on a hill east of State Rt 87 and North of Quaker State Rd. The Fairfield Township Zoning Officer denied the permit application per Municipal Ordinance Article 4 permitted use is not provided for in the RA District. Written and oral comments will be considered at this hearing. The Board of Supervisors has 45 days to render a decision. Ronald Springman, Secretary |
Appeared in: Williamsport Sun-Gazette on Monday, 03/26/2012
