Forest Hills Bans Gas Drilling

Council unanimously passed an ordinance banning natural gas drilling in the borough at its regular meeting Wednesday evening.

The measure, which comes after months of urging from environmental , forbids “the extraction of and/or exploration for natural gas within the borough of Forest Hills,” according to the ordinance title.

“I see this as probably one of the most important decisions council is making this year,” council member said before the vote. “I urge other boroughs to jump on board and do something as well.”

, a Forest Hills resident and advocate, said after the meeting that the ban was a win for residents.

“I’m really proud of them,” Donohoe said of council. “When they speak for us, the will of the community is represented.”

Roughly 30 residents—a larger crowd than usual—filled council chambers Wednesday evening, many of whom applauded the unanimous vote.

Debate over natural gas drilling and, in particular, —a process in which drillers inject a mixture of water, sand and chemicals into a well at high pressure to fracture rock and release natural gas—has escalated over the past few years.

Generally, advocates for drilling bans say fracking releases harmful chemicals into ground water, jeopardizing public health and wildlife. Proponents of natural gas drilling say these concerns are exaggerated and instead point to the economic benefits that could result from drilling.

As of yet, no natural gas drilling has occurred in Forest Hills.

When council decided last month to draft the ordinance, President Frank Porco said his only hesitation was whether such a measure would hold up in court.

In an interview after Wednesday’s meeting, Porco said those concerns still linger, adding that council members are researching additional options to strengthen the measure through zoning changes.

“Our job is to basically make this place viable for the next 20 years,” Porco said. "But the ordinance we adopted this evening will not change—it will stay on the books.”