DUBOIS – Platt Road residents approached the Sandy Township Supervisors over truck traffic from the Marcellus shale industry.
Several township residents attended the Monday night meeting to complain about several problems with the truck traffic: inability to sleep due to noise, damage to the roads from the weight, and that the roads are not wide enough for a truck and car to pass each other while remaining on the road. The trucks are loading water sold by the City of DuBois.
It was requested that the township find a way to limit truck operations from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The shale pit was used as an example of where this was done. Township Manager Dick Castonguay explained that this can’t be done with the current water loading site. The shale operation required a conditional use permit, which allowed the township to place stipulations. The water loading is occurring in a location allowed by zoning, Industrial, and is allowed to operate 24/7.
The citizens were also corrected on the belief they live in a residential zone. According to the township, the water loading is occurring in an industrial zone that is being eyed for further development. The homes are currently in a residential agricultural zone that could see uses equally as disruptive should a relevant business wish to go in.
Castonguay stated that based on the singular prior complaint about noise he had received, there is a noise dampening wall planned to be built at no cost to the township for that resident. The site plans, pending state permit approval, to move farther away from the road, which should help reduce noise as well.
The township supervisors agreed about Platt Road’s worsening condition, but explained that the roads are bonded. They were already planning to contact EOG concerning the roads.
