Two Workshops Thursday On Local Roads/Law Enforcement

Two opportunities are available on Thursday, March 24, for municipal leaders and others who are concerned about law enforcement and public safety issues with rural roads. Growth of the natural gas industry has increased traffic on roads that were not designed for the greater volume or weight.

Potter County Commissioners Doug Morley, Paul Heimel and Susan Kefover will be sponsoring Thursday’s workshop, at 10 am and again at 6 pm, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania State Police barracks on Denton Hill, local police, PennDOT and the Potter County Planning Department.

The sessions will be held at the Gunzburger Building auditorium in Coudersport. More than 60 township and borough representatives from across Potter County have already signed up to participate. Municipal officials will learn how they can work with state and local police 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.