Despite the work of a very determined group of citizens, a referendum banning Marcellus Shale gas drilling was overwhelmingly defeated Tuesday in Peters, Washington County.
According to unofficial results, the referendum, which garnered national attention and stirred passions on both sides, was snuffed out by a large majority.
The referendum was among one of the first in the nation in which voters had a direct voice in determining whether natural gas well drilling -- and hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking" -- should be allowed in their neighborhoods.
A similar measure in the city of Warren, Warren County, also was defeated, though one in the borough of State College, in Centre County, was approved by voters there.
A citizens group called Peters Township Marcellus Shale Awareness was responsible for placing the question on the ballot after gathering more than 2,400 signatures from local residents earlier this year.
Members of the group said they were concerned about health and safety, along with property values, if gas well drilling were to be permitted in the mostly residential township of 21,000 residents. It is the most populous municipality in the county.
If the referendum had passed, it would have overridden an ordinance approved by Peters council members this summer, which limits drilling to sites of at least 40 acres, along with other restrictions.
In the weeks and months leading up to the election, council members and industry groups spent thousands of dollars in court and through direct mailings, urging residents to defeat the measure. That would have amended the township's home rule charter and established a "bill of rights" for residents.
Council mounted an unsuccessful court challenge to have the question removed from the ballot because members felt it violated the state's Oil and Gas Act, the law governing most aspects of drilling.
Council members said they believed their ordinance went as far as it legally could to regulate gas well drilling.
Council felt the ban would have been "indefensible" in court and would have cost taxpayers millions of dollars had it been challenged by drilling companies who hold Marcellus leases with 774 property owners.
"I think what it says is that the people of Peters Township are pretty smart; they understood the issues," Councilman David Ball said Tuesday night. "Our ordinance is probably the most stringent one in the state. This will give us a chance to see how it works."
Though no drilling has taken place nor have permits been issued yet in Peters, drilling is abundant in neighboring municipalities. Several large properties in Peters, including farms, cemeteries and golf courses, have signed leases and meet the requirements of council's ordinance.
That's a concern for some residents, including PTMSA members, who said they will regroup after losing this battle.
"We did what we thought was the best thing for the township," said member Sue Smith. "This is not the end. We will still look for ways to prohibit drilling in our mostly residential township."
First Published: November 9, 2011, 5:30 a.m.
