Crescent Township Braces for Marcellus Shale Drilling

manager Patience Eckhardt said the township wants to be prepared for potential Marcellus shale drilling development.

She said it's only a matter of time before a company formally approaches the township about the form of natural gas extraction. One private property in the township has already been selected as a drilling site, she said.

"Nearly every community around us has been approached [by drilling companies]," Eckhardt said. "There's drilling in South Heights, Hopewell, pretty much all around us."

Crescent's Board of Commissioners passed an ordinance at its monthly meeting Tuesday night requiring drilling companies to seek a permit with the township before drilling. Eckhardt said the township currently has no such policy in place.

The ordinance will take effect in May.

"We want to take a proactive approach to Marcellus shale," Eckhardt said.

Other items of interest at the meeting:

• The township will hold a public flea market on May 1 at Shouse Park on Spring Run Road.

• The board adopted a new ordinance requiring township seasonal employees to undergo drug testing.

• The board changed the time and date of the May business meeting to 8:30 a.m. May 19. The current time of the meeting conflicts with municipal primary elections on May 17.