West Deer supervisors reject well pad proposed by Olympus Energy

The West Deer Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 on Dec. 15 not to approve the first of two proposed well pads from Olympus Energy LLC.

West Deer Chairman Arlind Karpuzi said the board denied the application because it did not meet the township’s zoning ordinances.

West Deer Vice Chairwoman Beverly Jordan agreed with Karpuzi’s assessment of the situation.

“A well site must be 650 feet from a habitable or working building. In two areas, they did not meet that,” Jordan said.

Olympus Energy officials could not be reached for comment.

The Dec. 15 meeting was available to attend in-person or via Zoom. An estimated 30 residents attended the meeting at the West Deer Municipal building, and 15 viewed it virtually.

The Dionysus well pad was proposed at a site accessed from Middle Road Extension. West Deer officials said the properties are owned by township resident John Ippolito. If approved, Olympus Energy would have begun construction of the Dionysus well pad in May.

Residents applauded the vote, calling the denial a “Christmas miracle.”

“I’m not against fracking, just at that spot,” West Deer resident Ryan Kolan said.

Jo Resciniti, who leads a group called Concerned Residents of West Deer (CROWD), was thrilled by the vote.

“I really think the way the community turned out for the hearing was notable and made a difference to show supervisors this application did not comply with the township’s ordinances,” she said.

On its Facebook page, CROWD posts information on public hearing dates, Olympus Energy’s plans and information on well pads. Resciniti created a website to compile all the information she received from the meetings and residents.

Public hearings began in August for the well pad. The last hearing, held in late November, was open for public comment.

There were differing opinions from residents on whether to approve the well pad. Residents who owned property saw the well pad as an opportunity to encourage economic growth. Other residents were concerned about health and safety, emergency evacuation and heavy traffic for the residential area.

Public hearings for the second proposed well pad, on Oak Road and named Leto, will begin next year.

The document detailing the board’s decision and resolution on the proposed well pad is published on the West Deer website, westdeertownship.com (go to “Gas Well Hearing Information”).