Fracking starts at Pittsburgh International Airport

PITTSBURGH — Consol Energy has started drilling for natural gas under the Pittsburgh International Airport.

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Company officials expect six gas wells on the property to generate $500 million in royalties in the next two decades, money that will go toward airport improvements and other initiatives.

Channel 11’s Lisa Sylvester attended a press conference Wednesday where Consol officials touted the benefits of drilling while also trying to assuage environmental concerns from the public.

Those worries include added noise and air pollution at the airport as well as concerns about safety hazards.

However, company officials said new state-of-the-art technology will be used to lessen emissions from equipment used in the hydraulic fracturing process.

“This is being done to control emissions,” said Tim Dugan, the chief executive officer of exploration and production at Consol. “This is the most current technology there is with engines and equipment to maintain air quality and limit what we emit in the air.”

Company officials also said they are trying hard to be a good neighbor during the duration of drilling on the property.

“Roads that enhance the infrastructure of the airport property have been created and approved,” said Mark Stebbins, the district operations superintendent for Consol.

While hydraulic fracturing started Wednesday at the site, officials said it won’t likely be until the fall when the wells start producing natural gas.

The company already has received leases from the Allegheny County Airport Authority and the Federal Aviation Administration to drill on the site.

WPXI