UPDATE: The Tribune Review Saturday reported the Hilcorp Energy Company has withdrawan its application for forced pooling to develop natural gas from some landowners it has not leased under a 1961 state law. A spokesperson for DEP said they would be cancelling the hearings on the application scheduled earlier in the week.

The Department of Environmental Protection Tuesday announced hearing officer Michael Bangs has rescheduled the public hearing sessions on an Application for Gas Well Spacing Units, or spacing order, received from Hilcorp Energy Co., for October 27 and 28.

Hilcorp Energy Co. is applying for a well spacing order that establishes four gas well drilling units on 3,267 acres to drill into the Utica Shale Formation in Pulaski Township, Lawrence County and Shenango Township, Mercer County.

Under the Oil and Gas Conservation Law of 1961, when a spacing order application is submitted, an administrative hearing must be held prior to a final decision on the application.

On July 11, the hearing officer rescheduled the hearing sessions for September 16 and 17, after two previous postponements. Due to a scheduling conflict, Hilcorp requested new hearing dates. At the request of the hearing officer, the parties determined agreeable dates for the hearing.

On August 5, the intervening property owners renewed their Motion to Stay, which would delay the hearing pending a final ruling by the Commonwealth Court on a related matter. On Aug. 11, hearing officer Bangs denied the motion.

The first hearing session has been rescheduled for October 27 and 28. The hearing session will begin at 10 a.m. and 9 a.m. respectively and be held at the Albert P. Gettings Government Center Annex of the Lawrence County Government Center, Assembly Room, 349 Countyline St., New Castle.

The first two-day hearing session will accept testimony on the spacing order application. DEP, Hilcorp and property owners and operators in the area subject to the order will be eligible to provide testimony. The first session will be open for the general public to attend and observe.

The second hearing session will begin at 6 p.m. on October 28, at the same location. As requested previously by DEP, anyone from the general public will have the opportunity to provide input about the application at the second session.

Interested persons and operators wishing to present testimony at either session should contact Glenda Davidson at 717-787-4449 at least seven days prior to the first session.

Those giving testimony at the second session will be requested to submit three written copies of their oral testimony to the assigned hearing officer.

The department will submit a public notice of the rescheduled hearings for publication in local papers at least two weeks prior to the hearing sessions. Although not required by law, DEP also will directly notify all royalty owners and operators within the area subject to the requested order. Information on the hearing will also be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

For more information, visit DEP’s Conservation Law webpage or call 717-772-2199.

NewsClips:

Hilcorp Energy Withdraws Application For Forced Pooling

New Hearing Dates Set For Hilcorp Forced Pooling Requests

9/1/2014