CLEARFIELD – At a regular meeting Monday night, the Clearfield Area School District Board of Directors heard details of a proposed lease for a Marcellus Shale natural gas well for four parcels in the area of the Curwensville-Clearfield Country Club and the high school.
Gregg L. Barrett of McIntire Coal, Oil & Gas in Curwensville explained that the presented lease would “package” together the country club, high school and surrounding properties. He indicated it would be a five-year lease at $4,500 per acre.
According to him, it’s not feasible to place a natural gas well on the country club property. However, he believed it would become more doable if they had a combined lease agreement with the high school. At this time, he said the country club is not under a lease with Marcellus Shale.
When asked by the board members and administrators, Barrett said they would experience about a five-acre disturbance if a gas well was in operation there. He was then questioned about any potential noise and truck traffic that the high school area would experience as well.
“I’m concerned with its effects on education,” Interim Superintendent Dr. J. Thomas Frantz said. Barrett said that it would be pretty noisy, and there would be heavy traffic coming and going from the site. But he said both could be worked out as part of addendums to the proposed lease.
Frantz questioned about the removal of wastewater if a gas well was placed on the high school’s property. Barrett said he has never been on school property but believed if there was enough space available, a pond would be placed at the site. Otherwise, he said it would be hauled out by truck.
Frantz expressed concerns related to the liability of having open water in the area of the students. Barrett said the district wouldn’t endure the liability in the case of a pond being located at the site. But he said they could still request an addendum for a fence to be placed around the open water.
Barrett confirmed that each of the four parcels would be offered the same proposal of $4,500. He noted nothing has been set in stone yet with the country club. He said attorney James A. Naddeo has been ironing out details on their end, and they were waiting to hear the direction of the district.
Board member Jennifer Wallace questioned Barrett about whether Marcellus Shale has ever had any natural gas wells that were close in proximity to schools and or the community.
Barrett said he couldn’t say for sure, as “it’s all brand new.” He said anyone who said any different would be lying. He also said that the state’s Department of Environmental Protection would watch over them “like a hawk.”
“You’ve seen all these catastrophes, but DEP has really cracked down,” Barrett said. He left a copy of the proposed lease for the district’s counsel to review.
Board President Dave Glass said the district is only in the exploration stages at the present time.