Moon Police Prepare for Marcellus Shale Drilling

It hasn't come to Moon yet, but Chief Leo McCarthy said his department would be ready.

McCarthy and other law enforcement officials last week received a crash course on the impact of Marcellus Shale drilling on Pennsylvania communities. The officials were attending a conference in State College that was presented by the U.S. Department of Justice.

More than 200 state and Federal law enforcement officials were briefed on the potential environmental effects of drilling, as well as how it could lead to spikes in community crime rates.

"Sometimes, [drilling] can cause a rise in crime," McCarthy said. "You'll often have individuals who are from out of town and maybe renting here; you'll have them here in bars. Sometimes, you'll see in increase in illegal aliens, [whom drilling companies and subcontractors employ]."

No Marcellus Shale drilling has taken place in Moon; the township's board of supervisors is crafting revisions to the community's oil and gas drilling ordinances focused on Marcellus Shale drilling. Two private properties in Crescent have been leased to drilling companies.

McCarthy said he wants to ensure that Moon officers are prepared for the potential arrival of drilling in the township. He said he's already briefed his staff on what to expect should drilling companies come to Moon and is training officers to properly inspect vehicles that drilling companies use. The department has three officers who are state-certified commercial truck inspectors.

McCarthy said he also expected to meet with other township officials before drilling takes place in Moon.

"We hear so much about this stuff, and we want to be ahead of the curve," McCarthy said. "So if we see something that doesn't look right I want us to be able to act on it."

Because of Moon's proximity to the Pittsburgh International Airport and the large number of hotels in the township, McCarthy said, drilling company employees have set up temporary housing in the township. Earlier this month, more than was stolen from the truck of an oil company employee living at the

"We realize that drilling can be a great opportunity," he said. "[The Moon Township Police Department is] only one part of this, but we're just out here for public safety."