City of Bradford, PA Chapter 118 Gas and Oil Wells

[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Bradford 6-20-1955 as Ord. No. 2527; amended in its entirety 9-26-1972 by Ord. No. 2898. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 118-1 Drilling operations.

[Amended 8-26-1975 by Ord. No. 2975]

A. At each well drilling operation within the city limits of Bradford there shall be provided a sump or suitable container large enough to receive without overflow all drill cuttings, water and oil that may reasonably be expected to be produced in the drilling and cleaning out of the well.

B. Surface water shall be excluded from such sumps by means of diversion ditches on the uphill side or by other appropriate measures. After completion of the well, any oil or basic sediment that has accumulated shall be disposed of in such manner as to avoid a fire hazard. In no event shall the operator permit the disposal of any sand cutting, oil or basic sediment into the sewers of the City of Bradford. Sumps providing for the accumulation of sand cuttings, water or oil from the drilling operations located in congested areas or where children congregate shall be properly surrounded by fencing until such time as the hazard has been removed.

C. The Police Department, with any of the officers or employees of the city, shall have the right to go on any private property where drilling operations are in progress to investigate or for the purpose of regulation.

D. [1]No oil and gas well shall be drilled in the City of Bradford unless and until the permit as submitted to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has been approved by the City Council or its authorized representative. The City Council or its authorized representative shall issue such permit, valid for a period of sixty (60) days from the date thereof or as long as drilling operations are proceeding in a workmanlike manner, upon application of the owner of the mineral rights or the owner's authorized representative and payment of the permit fee in the amount of one dollar ($1.). The application shall include:

(1) A duplicate plat as required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania identifying the well location; and

(2) Consent and bond.

(a) The written consent of the owners of all occupied structures within one hundred (100) feet of the well bore for shooting or hydrofracturing of the well and the bond of the owner of the well with sufficient sureties in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000.) each person and three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000.) each accident protecting the public from any damages by reason of the drilling and completing of the well; or

(b) The bond of the owner with sufficient sureties as approved by the City Council or its authorized representative in the amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000.) each accident protecting the public from any damages by reason of the drilling and completing of the well, which shall include the shooting or hydrofracturing of the well.

(3) In granting the permit, the City Council or its authorized representative may require the use of city equipment and personnel for fire protection and shall charge the owner a reasonable fee therefor.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended during codification; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II.

E. Drilling equipment shall be removed promptly from a well site upon written request of any property owners of occupied structures within one hundred (100) feet of the well whenever drilling operations, including fishing or cleaning-out operations, have been completed and work is no longer proceeding in a workmanlike manner.

F. Drilling operations shall not be permitted closer than fifty (50) feet from an occupied structure without the written permission of the owner thereof.

§ 118-2 Production operation.

A. Water, oil or basic sediment from all producing wells shall be received in tanks or other suitable containers from which all waste, such as tank bottoms and other petroleum residues, shall be discharged into one (1) or more sumps of adequate size to prevent oil or gaseous water from reaching the sewers of the City of Bradford.

B. The well drilling and pumping equipment shall be either:

(1) Constantly supervised during operation; or

(2) Completely surrounded by adequate fencing sufficient to keep out all persons when located in congested areas or where children congregate and are considered a hazard of not less than four (4) feet in height approved by the City Council or its authorized representative.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended during codification; see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II.

C. In residential areas, an operator shall keep his tanks and pumping equipment painted and all pipe and equipment stored in a neat and orderly manner.

§ 118-3 Violations and penalties.

Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of this chapter, upon conviction thereof before a District Magistrate or Justice of the Peace, shall be subject to a fine not to exceed three hundred dollars ($300.) or imprisonment for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days, or both.