Posts Tagged ‘GIS’

Commissioners consider asking for proposals to drill at Moon Lake Park.

Having witnessed the natural-gas drilling boom both in other counties and for some local residents, Luzerne County officials are considering the windfall potential for county lands.

At its meeting on Wednesday, the county commissioners are expected to approve issuing a request for proposals to drill in a little more than 2,000 acres in Moon Lake Park. They’ll also likely vote on creating a gas exploration task force proposed by Commissioner Greg Skrepenak.

Commissioner Steve Urban said he’s been following the gas progress for about six months and feels now is the time to offer the park lands because surrounding landowners are seeking leases as well.

“People are already interested in the land around Moon Lake, and I’m optimistic they’d be willing to talk to us,” he said. “It’s good to be proactive.”

He said the going rates seem to be between $2,600 and $3,200 signing bonuses per acre and perhaps 18 percent royalties.

Beyond the benefits to the county, he suggested local customers would find a benefit in receiving domestically produced natural gas.

He said the drilling wouldn’t affect plans to construct mountain-bike racing courses there.

Skrepenak said he’d likely support offering the lands for leasing, but said the county should have fully researched the topic first.

“I definitely think we need to take this issue as far as we can,” he said.

The task force would gather information, but also be a source for residents and local companies seeking work with the gas companies, he said. It should be made up of county officials, other public officers and experienced professionals, he said.

The shale drilling has shown to be “recession proof” in Texas, he said, which is why he finds it an exciting consideration. “It is the hot topic,” he said. “It’s been seen as a positive thing for the most part.”

Dave Skoronski, director of the county Geographic Information System/Mapping Department, noted there are promising signs that companies are considering the county. Several companies in related industries have come to his office to buy the county’s map data.

“They’ve been coming, and some people who work at the desk said they were doing gas research,” he said, noting that Burnett Oil Co., Inc., Mason Dixon Energy, Inc. and Elexco Land Services, Inc. have purchased map information.

Panel created

Luzerne County Commissioner Greg Skrepenak was named to the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania’s Natural Gas Task Force.

The group has been established to identify issues related to exploration and development of natural gas in Pennsylvania and to advise on policy related to those issues. Skrepenak participated in the task force’s first conference call on Sept. 26.

Copyright: Times Leader