The Drakulic Well Pad and Its Potential Impacts on School Aged Children

What is the Drakulic Well Pad?

The Drakulic Well Pad is the site of three permitted unconventional gas wells (Drakulic 1H, 2H, and 7H) in Level Green, Penn Twp, Westmoreland Co. It is operated by the gas company Apex Energy (PA) LLC. Housed within a close vicinity of residential areas, including Trafford Middle/Elementary School, Level Green Elementary School, and the community’s park, this yields great concern for our children and community. These schools are about a mile from the well site, and due to their location, school-aged children may be exposed to dangerous and volatile chemicals. The well site is within 1000 feet of Route 130, causing even greater issues with having to shut down our community’s main road in the event of a blowout. The threat of this occurring is concerning, and possible, due to the fact that the approval of this site by the DEP did not address Apex Energy’s insufficient emergency response plan, which has been a violation at their other sites, as well.

What is an emergency response plan (ERP)?

ERPs are guidelines that are us