YORK — Around 50 people crowded the York Town Hall Tuesday night for a public hearing on a draft one-year moratorium on hydrofracking.
The proposed moratorium halts any hydrofracking activity for a year so the Board can research the subject and make an educated decision on the matter. In the view of some area residents, though, it would also take away landowner rights.
Of the people who voiced their opinions at the hearing, 15 supported the proposed moratorium, while eight opposed it.
York resident Bob Wilcox, who previously signed with a gas company, opposed the moratorium.
“It’s wrong,” Wilcox said. “The Board doesn’t have the right to change my decision.”
Several other speakers echoed his opinion, saying they own the land and have the right to do whatever they want with it.
Several speakers raised concerns that in addition to banning the latest drilling technique, hydrofracking in horizontal wells, the moratorium could affect current wells drilled by Lenape Resources, which use vertical hydrofracking. The Board said the moratorium would not interfere with current well operations.
Some people pointed out that a moratorium would only give the Board a year to research and educate themselves on the subject and shouldn’t be treated as the Board saying “yes” or “no” to the horizontal, high-volume hydrofracking in question.
Still others in attendance voiced support of the proposed local law, stating it was the only way the Town of York could have control over what happens to its land and water.
Dairy farmer Larry Smith wanted to see his neighbors stop fighting over the subject.
“I was hoping the moratorium would help us iron out those animosities,” he said. “I do not believe just because we own land we can do anything we want with it. I think we need more disclosure and less people saying ‘I can do anything I want to.’”
The Board did not reach a decision on the matter tonight and will accept written comments until 4 p.m. August 14. A copy of the proposed moratorium can be found at http://www.yorkny.org.