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Wales Gives OK to National Fuel for Gas Compressor Station

By Nancy Gish

December 18, 2011 

After months of research, discussions and visits with National Fuel Gas Supply Corp., the Wales Town Board has approved a special use permit for the utility to build a compressor station on land it already owns on Reiter Road.

The permit has numerous conditions covering noise levels, visual impact, emissions, future expansion, the safety of chemicals on site, and the need for no-trespassing signs and barricaded gates to prevent cars from entering.

The local fire companies must be informed about what is on the site and anything else they need to be able to respond to in an emergency.

Knowing that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission pre-empts town law, the board worked with National Fuel to come up with an agreement that protects the town and its residents.

Ronald C. Kraemer, vice president of National Fuel Gas Supply Corp., previously told the board that if the noise level became too high, the utility would be required by FERC to install mufflers on the machinery if needed. The compressor station will be powered by two 4,470-pound machines.

The station will transfer natural gas through pipelines to Canada.

Environmentalists praised the town for its efforts and for including their concerns in the document, especially the noise levels.

On Dec. 8, Supervisor Ricky Venditti and Councilwoman Jude Hartrich traveled to Washington, Pa., to view a similar compressor station. They said the noise levels were substantially lower than they expected and lower than that of another compressor station they visited last June.

The final vote was 4-1, with Councilman Donald Butcher voting no.

Venditti said Town Attorney Ronald Bennett has to add the changes to the permit made at the meeting, and both National Fuel and the town have to sign it before it goes into effect.

On an unrelated gas issue, the board invited gas distribution company representatives to a Jan. 24 work session to explain how gas companies decide how to expand gas coverage.

Some residents had questioned if National Fuel could provide pipelines throughout the town for residents to have heat.

Venditti said it’s a cost issue, and it will be explained at the work session.