Published: November 14, 2009 10:54 pm      

Columbia Gas plans to clarify requests for seismic testing

Still some dispute over company’s right to perform tests

CUMBERLAND — A utility company that had sought to conduct surveying and seismic testing could begin its surveying work as early as Monday in a limited capacity.

Houston-based Columbia Gas Transmission had sent correspondence to property owners along Green Ridge and Crossover roads in the Flintstone area informing them of the company’s legal right to conduct such tests as part of a feasibility study to increase the capacity of its Artemas (Pa.) storage field.

Delegate LeRoy Myers responded to constituents’ inquiries by contacting the State Attorney General’s Office. He received an opinion from Assistant Attorney General Sandra Benson Brantley that seismic testing was not permissable under state law without the property owner’s consent.

Myers said that Columbia Gas Transmission “found out the citizens had more rights than what they realized.”

That’s not necessarily the case, said Cindy Donaldson, a spokeswoman for Columbia Gas Transmission.

“Our legal team has been reviewing the Maryland right-of-entry code with (Benson Brantley) in an effort to mitigate the disconnect,” Donaldson said. “We still believe (the law) covers us for seismic testing.”

Donaldson said workers will begin surveying work as soon as Monday on properties whose owners have granted permission. The rest — the number of affected property owners was not immediately available — will again receive literature in the mail. This time, Donaldson said, the message will be much easier to understand.

“We can do better communicating with landowners,” Donaldson said. “My conversations (with Myers) have been about how we could have better communicated this letter and permit. There was just a lot of confusion of what the terms of the permit actually mean. That’s our fault; we did not make that clear.”

Despite some residents’ belief to the contrary, CGT is not requesting property owners signed over rights to any minerals found underneath the surface.

“It’s only a temporary license to conduct seismic surveying,” Donaldson said. “It is not a long-term permit. It in no way conveys mineral rights for our (company) or anything other than surveying and testing.”

And the seismic testing, she said, “is really very minimal.” It amounts to drilling 4-inch holes between 15 and 25 feet deep and placing a small charge in each hole.

Once the hole is repacked, sensors are placed near the surface — no digging is required — and when the charge detonates, “that’s when underground pictures are taken,” Donaldson said. “It’s a pretty simple process.”

Myers questioned Donaldson about the company’s plans and asked her to send him “a business plan, or blueprint, a map that showed me what they thought was available and why they picked the properties that they picked to send the letter to.”

Myers said he conveyed the message and concerns of county residents about the letters they received. Those letters didn’t adequately explain the company’s plans, Myers said.

An unsigned, undated letter sent to property owners such as Flintstone resident Billy Joe Mathis from Larry Smith, permit agent for Geokinetics USA Inc., said the company is requesting a seismic permit for “seismic surveying and/or geophysical testing.”

The area covers nearly 28,000 acres in Allegany County and Bedford County, Pa.

Donaldson said CGT is attempting to schedule a public meeting with affected property owners. The date and location has yet to be determined.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.