Planning and zoning leaves many standingPlanning and zoning leaves many standing
By Cherise Kaechele
Argus Observer
Tuesday, July 19, 2011 11:13 AM PDT
PAYETTE — Concerns of a proposed natural gas plant near New Plymouth was one of many topics discussed during the Payette County Planning and Zoning Committee meeting Thursday, which ended without a resolution.
The Payette County Planning and Zoning Committee met and discussed Bridge Resources Corporation’s request to drill natural gas in New Plymouth. After six hours the committee decided to table the decision.
The corporation has already purchased land in the area and have set up pumps and now would like to begin collecting the gas they have already found. Thursday they were requesting a permit to construct the plant.
More than 100 people were in attendance at the meeting last Thursday at the Payette County Courthouse in Payette. Seating was scarce and people were shoulder-to-shoulder, against the walls and crowded outside the doors to hear the meeting.
Some in attendance whispered their opinions, some shook their heads while others rolled their eyes as Steve West, President of Centra Consulting, Inc. represented Bridge Resources and gave his testimony to the committee.
In his 15 minutes West stated that this will provide over 200 employment opportunities to the people in New Plymouth and the surrounding areas. It will also help to stimulate the economy and bring revenue to the state and Payette county.
West addressed the most significant concerns the public had in the previous two hearings. One major concern was the danger to the ground water this facility poses.
“Extensive expense and measures have been taken to protect the ground water,” West said. He continued to say the corporation will comply to the spill prevention control and counter measures plan as well as the federal clean water act.
These require certain measures to be taken to prevent contaminating ground water. Including secondary containment to house locations where there could be leakage, regular reporting of the facility as well as regular inspections of the plant.
Another concern was the danger to air emissions. West said in the federal clean air act additional permits are required as well as regular inspections. The act was put in place to limit the amount of air pollution being emitted in the U.S. from facilities like Bridge Resources. It ensures the health of the population surrounding the plant.
Finally he emphasized, initially, there will be no need for the use of a compressor. There will be a use for one eventually, maybe in one to three years.
After West addressed the committee and answered their questions the meeting was opened to the public.
In the six hour meeting several issues were brought up however danger to ground water, the possible decrease of local housing value, the level of noise the plant will be making and the lack of knowledge at the New Plymouth fire department on how to respond if a major disaster were to occur at the plant were the ones addressed the most.
Liz Amason, a Payette resident, was one of the first residents to come up and share her concerns. Amason brought her computer and gave an audio example of what 45 decibels sounds like. She stressed this sound will be 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To the neighbors near the plant, 45 decibels is not necessarily guaranteed to be the maximum sound of the plant.
Several volunteer fire fighters from New Plymouth came to the meeting and stressed the need for training and tools to respond to an emergency situation at the plant if it ever arises. The fact that if Hazmat was required at the facility the closest fire department trained in Hazmat would be in Nampa. The local fire department would need to know how to respond if an explosion or spill were to occur is detrimental to the residents of New Plymouth as well as the fire fighters.
The public’s opinion was not completely against the plant, however. Several residents came up to voice how positive this plant would be to the community and its economy. This plant would give local residents jobs and revenue, which is something that this area needs in the current economy.
After six hours of hearing, the committee decided to table the decision. There will no longer be testimony from the public and the next meeting Bridge Resources will appear on the agenda is Aug. 18.