The Kidder Township Zoning Hearing Board granted a conditional approval to the special exception application of PennEast for a compressor station in the township.

The PennEast pipeline project has yet to receive final approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, but the company is proceeding with the necessary preliminary preparations in the meantime. One of those items is the need for approval of a special exceptionto build a compressor station off Route 940 in Kidder Township.The Kidder Township Zoning Hearing Board held a number of public hearings in November on the special exception use and a height variance.PennEast put on a number of experts who explained the design and safety features of the compressor. The applicant's witnesses also testified to how the design and operation of the station would comply with township regulations.The hearing board also approved a variance for the height of the building."PennEast Pipeline Company is pleased that the Kidder Township Zoning Board has approved its applications for approval of a special exception as well as a 3-foot height variance," said Pat Kornick, PennEast spokeswoman. "The pipeline project has been designed to minimize impact and disturbance by requiring only one compressor station to serve the entire line. PennEast also examined several potential locations for its compressor station taking into account many factors. PennEast chose the site in Kidder Township based not only on safety - our highest priority - but also due to its location that minimizes visual and noise impacts."Kidder Township did not present any witnesses during the hearings but submitted a list of requirements that the township wanted imposed as a condition of any approval.The township requested that PennEast comply with the following conditions:• Requirement of lighting at the intersection of Route 940 and Industrial Road;• Lighting at the gate where the contact and emergency information is posted;• Supplemental information as to the construction of the pipes transmitting the product to and from the compressor station. Since it appears that at least some if not all of the pipeline will be at or near the existing water table, what would be the nature of the pipeline construction to avoid infiltrate product into the water table?• The applicant will agree to supply the township all reports of environmental testing that are periodically submitted to state and federal regulatory agencies;•Kidder will have the right for periodic inspection for noise, stormwater, health and safety upon notice to the applicant;• The proposed Emergency Operation Plan will be maintained and updated by the applicant. The township officials and emergency responders will be included in the Emergency Operations Plan Review Process.The township also requested that the applicant provide proof of receipt of following required environmental permits.The conditional approval requires compliance with the conditions listed. The zoning approval also requires PennEast to notify the township of any failure to obtain any of the necessary permits.The motion to approve the application and variance was made by board secretary William Behert and was seconded by Laurie Harris. The motion passed 4-1. Board member Stanley Spolowich voted no."It was a hard decision," Spolowich said. "It is a matter of conscience. During the hearings, some of the questions I asked I didn't feel that the answers I was given were forthright."Kornick said the station will feature advance-soundproofing technology that will keep sound levels at or below 55 dBA. For comparison, she said, that's less than normal speech at 3 feet."The zoning board's approval is another step forward to PennEast providing greater energy security and lower energy costs for the region's families and businesses," Kornick said."PennEast will continue to work with Kidder Township, and looks forward to the supervisors' ensuing variance consideration."