This Wednesday, due to the work of local residents, North Huntingdon Commissioners rejected a lease proposed by Apex Energy, which would’ve seen a fracking lateral extend under a 5-acre parcel a quarter of a mile away from Indian Lake Park, next to homes along Peregrine drive. The parcel is not a park, but is undisturbed natural green space.
Residents organized a herculean effort to stop the lease. One resident distributed 250 flyers to neighbors in the region of the lease. One commissioner reported receiving 27 phone calls in 24 hours. Forty-five residents attended the final vote. This reflects astounding engagement and concern for the public health on the part of local residents.
A member of Protect PT in North Huntingdon asked our organization to come talk about the science of fracking and the violation history of Apex Energy. Watch community members and our Environmental Policy Advocate, Tom Pike, speak here and here. Not a single resident spoke in support of the lease.
Commissioners Jason Atwood, Fran Bevan, Eric Gass, Richard Gray and Tom Hempel voted No on the lease, while Zachary Haigis and Ronald Zona voted for it. Apex’s lateral will now have to stop at the edge of the property line, and five acres is too large for them to surreptitiously siphon off what is underneath it. It is also too large to go around, ensuring this lateral will end there.
This is good news. The company proposing the lease, Apex Energy had over 113 violations between 2018-2023 and tried to pressure commissioners by creating a false deadline. Subsurface fracking leases pose significant risks to the those who live nearby. For example, in West Deer Township it was found that subsurface fracking to the contamination of the park’s creeks and streams.
Our congratulations to the residents who organized this incredible win! May it be an example to neighboring communities where fracking corporations try to exploit lands that belong to the public.
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