Law Enforcement/Public Safety Workshop For Municipalities

The Potter County Commissioners will be sponsoring a workshop in late March to assist townships and boroughs with public safety and law enforcement issues stemming from natural gas drilling and related activities. Details on the session, which will be held at the Gunzburger Building auditorium in Coudersport, will be announced soon.

Municipal officials will learn how they can work with Pennsylvania State Police from the Denton Hill barracks to improve enforcement of laws pertaining to public safety and protection of roads and bridges from damage due to overweight and oversized vehicles. For more information, contact Potter County Planning Director Charlotte Dietrich at 274-8254.

Last year, the State Police and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) launched Operation FracNET, a dedicated enforcement operation focusing on commercial vehicles hauling equipment and waste water from Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling operations. State police teams check vehicle braking systems, exterior lighting and other equipment that plays a role in operational safety, as well as whether drivers possess the appropriate operator licenses. DEP inspects for issues pertaining to vehicle weight, waste hauler authorizations and standards for maintaining safe and secure loads.