[Added by Ord. 296, 2/15/2016]
Where well pads for unconventional wells, disposal wells or natural gas compression stations are authorized under this chapter as a special exception use, the proposed use must meet all of the applicable requirements set forth in this section.
1. Location and site requirements:
A. The well pad, compression station or disposal well shall not be located within any area having a population density at the time of application in excess of 1,086.07 persons per square mile as delineated on the population density map for the City of St. Marys issued by the United States Census Bureau, as from time to time amended;
B. No unconventional well bore shall be located closer than 1,250 feet to any occupied structure;
C. No compressor or generator used in the drilling or hydraulic fracturing operations of an unconventional well shall be located closer than 1,000 feet to any occupied structure;
D. The outer perimeter of the well pad or natural gas compressor station site shall not be closer than 1,000 feet to any occupied structure;
E. The outer edge of any used water impoundment shall not be located closer than 1,000 feet to any existing source of potable water serving an occupied structure;
F. The foregoing setback requirements may be reduced if the applicant can demonstrate that the topography surrounding the well pad is such that it provides a natural barrier to noise, dust and other adverse impacts to neighboring property;
G. The noise level from the well pad site or compression station shall not exceed an average sound level of 65 dbA, or the applicable standard imposed by federal law, whichever is less, measured at the boundary of neighboring properties over the relevant time period established under OSHA regulations for industrial activities in effect at the date of application.
H. Setbacks may be reduced by the Zoning Hearing Board upon written consent of all neighboring properties directly impacted by the setback reduction. The Zoning Hearing Board may require the installation of man-made sound barriers in such cases, unless specifically waived by the neighboring property owner.
I. Permanent structures on the well pad shall comply with any height restrictions in the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Act, as from time to time amended, and shall not violate the Airport Safety Zone regulations listed in § 231 of this chapter, unless written approval is received from the City of Saint Marys Airport Authority and the Federal Aviation Administration.
2. As part of each application, the applicant shall submit a copy of the plat and any water management plan filed with its well permit application under Section 3211 of the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Act, 58 Pa.C.S.A. § 3211, as from time to time amended. Unless the plat and water management plan contain the following information, the application shall also include:
A. An overall site plan of the project.
B. A detailed site plan of the project showing well pad location, access roads, property lines, setback lines, and names and deed references of adjoining surface land owners.
C. A description of accessory facilities serving the project.
D. Gantt charts for proposed development schedules and site decommissioning projections.
E. The site address of the development as determined by the Elk County 911 Emergency Communications System.
F. The name, address and telephone number of the applicant's site manager (which information shall be regularly updated by the applicant).
G. The well permit and well pad identification numbers.
3. For unconventional well pads and disposal well sites, the applicant shall submit a traffic control plan, which shall include:
A. All anticipated routes within the City for access to and from the well pad or site;
B. Proposed schedule of traffic activity serving the well pad or site, including the estimated level and duration of trucking activities;
C. Where identified by the City or the Department of Transportation, a plan for construction of turning lanes or other traffic control devices to alleviate traffic congestion issues on City or state highways;
D. A plan for dust control on public highways and nonpublic access roads serving the well pad or site; and
E. Installation of signs to discourage or control the use of jake brakes.
4. If employees are to be housed on site, the application shall include evidence of permit approval in compliance with Act 537, the Pennsylvania Sewage Facilities Act.
5. Applications for natural gas compression stations shall include:
A. A plan showing the location of the station site with approximate GPS coordinates;
B. A plan for noise abatement; and
C. A proposed schedule for installation and removal of the station.
6. Development of the well pad site shall apply the following best practices, unless the applicant can demonstrate that the practices are unnecessary or inappropriate:
A. Facilities shall be centralized on single sites to minimize disturbances to the natural landscape;
B. Where new roads are needed, applicants will design alignments that can serve as new trails or public accesses after the development ceases;
C. Applicants shall use existing infrastructure alignments (streets, rights-of-way, power and communication corridors, sewer and water easements and railways) when selecting locations for temporary or permanent horizontal infrastructure;
D. The site shall utilize downward-facing lighting infrastructure (except in the case of obstruction lighting) to preserve the dark sky nature of the rural landscape;
E. In restoring development sites after decommissioning, the utilization of native species is required, and a random planting scheme is encouraged;
F. The transportation of water to and from the site by pipeline is preferred, where feasible;
G. Site identification signs shall be posted at the intersection of each access road for an unconventional well pad with each public highway.
7. Operational Requirements for Unconventional Well Pads and Disposal Well Sites:
A. Each access road shall be paved for a distance of 100 feet from its intersection with each public highway;
B. The staging of trucks and equipment shall not be done within 500 feet of any occupied structure;
C. The applicant shall maintain continuous dust control on all access roads to prevent a dust nuisance on neighboring properties;
8. The procedure for considering a special exemption application is set forth in Part
6 of this chapter.