Potter County Today

In a development that’s unprecedented in modern history, three candidates have emerged to compete for the position of Potter County Republican Chairman. Director of Elections Sandra Lewis certified that Jason Chitester of Coudersport, Marcia Lagrua-Jones of Eulalia Township, and Carl Long of Allegany Township will have their names appear on the ballot in the May 18 primary election. Registered Republicans will choose the chairman, who will serve a two-year term. Incumbent D. Bruce Cahilly chose not to seek re-election. There is no salary. The Potter County Democratic Committee selects its chair through a vote of the committee membership.

Director Lewis also reported that there was little interest in seats on the county’s two political committees up for election on May 18. No candidates filed petitions for the 66 Republican committeeman and committeewoman positions. About a half-dozen Democrats filed to appear on local ballots — all unopposed — for the 66 Democratic County Committee seats.

Only registered Republicans and Democrats are eligible to vote on May 18. Deadline to register to vote, report change of address or change party affiliation is April 19.

Remember that Daylight Saving Time arrives at 2:00 am Sunday. Most people turn ahead their clocks one hour before they retire for the night on Saturday. Congress extended the Daylight Saving Time period, both in the spring and in the fall, as a means of saving energy by allowing an additional hour of daylight later in the day for many activities. We’ll get the hour back on Sunday, Nov. 7. Opinions differ on the advisability of changing clocks and there are some drawbacks. Potter County Emergency Management Agency says the twice-yearly ritual is a good reminder to change smoke detector batteries.

At least two companies are planning to build dozens of industrial wind turbines in northern Potter County. Plans are in various stages of development affecting Ulysses, Hector, Allegany, Homer, Sweden, Hebron and Eulalia townships. County officials advise citizens who are seeking specific information on wind energy facilities in their municipalities to check with their local township officials.

There are provisions in the Potter County Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance requiring developers to meet certain standards for noise and setbacks. However, several townships have been working on their own less restrictive ordinances which, according to at least some legal interpretations, would supersede the county’s regulations.

The county would still have a role to play. At this month’s meeting, members of the Potter County Planning Commission approved a checklist recommended by Planning Director Charlotte Dietrich, containing 25 entries that developers would have to address when applying to the county. Additional information on the county’s regulations is available from the Planning Office at the Gunzburger Building, 274-8254.

Two of the nation’s more active wind energy companies, AES Corporation and Invenergy, are moving closer to developing networks of 400-foot-plus turbines to generate electricity on high-altitude private properties in Potter County. Industry analysts say federal and state incentives have made construction of wind turbines economically attractive.

Several area school superintendents and other educators from Potter and McKean counties will be traveling to North Texas later this year to investigate job training and education programs that have been successful in the Barnett Shale natural gas region. Galeton Area School District Superintendent David Wishard has spearheaded the plan and Northcentral Pa. Regional Planning and Development Commission is providing funds that will cover most of the expenses. Helene Nawrocki, executive director of the Potter County Education Council, announced the plan during Tuesday’s meeting of the Potter County Natural Gas Task Force. She and Bob Veilleux, who is a liaison with the Education Council and Penn State Cooperative Extension, will join the area superintendents on the trip.

Also during Tuesday’s meeting, Tom Veazey, an experienced pipeline inspector and member of the Industry/Technical and Training Issues Study Committee, commended the Task Force leadership for pulling together divergent interests to stay abreast of developments that can be anticipated with Marcellus Shale natural gas development. He spoke of irreversible environmental destruction that he witnessed first-hand in southern Louisiana and urged local leaders to not allow a similar situation to occur in Potter County. Veazey said it appears that energy companies operating in the county so far are committed to environmental stewardship.

Terry Cole from Pa. CareerLink commended Gas Field Specialists Inc. of Shinglehouse for making a concerted effort to work with local employment agencies in recruiting workers for GFS.

Task Force members and guests were given copies of a questionnaire to share their views on various issues related to natural gas development and the operation and composition of the Task Force itself. These are being evaluated by the Potter County Commissioners and staff.

Water issues were on the agenda of Tuesday night’s Potter County Natural Gas Task Force. Three members of the organization’s Water Quality Study Committee addressed the group, emphasizing the need for citizens — especially those who own wells and springs — to be vigilant as well-drilling increases.

John McLaughlin announced that another round of training for volunteer water monitors in the Pine Creek Watershed will be held from 7-9 pm on Tuesday, March 23, at the North Campus of Pennsylvania College of Technology near Wellsboro. Pine Creek Headwaters Protection Group is holding the session. More information is available at 570-724-1801, extension 118.

McLaughlin also said the committee is working on developing information for property owners to assist them in testing their wells or springs. He emphasized the importance of obtaining water assessments prior to natural gas drilling, so that a baseline is established for later comparison. Different levels of testing are available and not all results may be admissible in court in the event of a liability claim, he cautioned.

Committee member Judy Bear explained the complexities of attributing changes in drinking water to specific causes. She emphasized the importance of having private water supplies tested, not only to establish baselines, but to detect bacteria that could cause health problems.

While acknowledging risks to the environment, Bear urged public officials to take steps to welcome gas companies to Potter County. “It’s going to happen, whether we want it or not – it’s coming,” she said. “We are close to the East Coast markets and there is a demand for natural gas, both economically and because of our country’s energy security. I think we should have signs that say, ‘Welcome, natural gas industry,’ at the county’s borders and try to make the best of this situation.”

Another committee member, Jim Clark of Penn State Cooperative Extension, encouraged the public to visit the Cooperative Extension website for information on water testing, landowners’ rights and the laws affecting drilling companies. Clark also said his agency is seeking private landowners who live in close proximity to natural gas drilling to participate in a study of the industry’s possible impact on water supplies. He can be contacted by email at jac20@psu.edu.

(Above, Judy Bear of Coudersport, a certified well driller, demonstrates how water percolates and migrates in the ground.)

Exhibitor space has sold out and people are registered from nine states for the three-county Natural Gas Expo, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, March 17-18, at the Coudersport Gospel Tabernacle. Helene Nawrocki, executive director of the Potter County Education Council, reported at Tuesday’s Potter County Natural Gas Task Force meeting that interest in the event has come from far and wide. “In terms of gas production, the eyes of the country are on this area,” she noted. There were 70 exhibitor spaces available and more than 100 applications to fill them.

The Expo is free and open to the public from noon to 7 pm on Wednesday and from 10 am to 7 pm on Thursday. Seminars will be held on a rotating basis spotlighting water resources and gas drilling; marketing local businesses to the gas industry; poly tanks; and obtaining servicing contracts with gas companies.