Police Cite Big Carrier Convoy

Cameron department says it has found numerous violations

Wheeling WV Intelligencer
18 May 2011
By J.W. Johnson Jr. Staff Writer , The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register

CAMERON - Although traffic from a gas drilling rig moving through Cameron was lighter than expected over the weekend, Cameron police remained busy writing citations for everything from exceeding weight limits to lack of proper documentation.

The rig is moving from Pennsylvania through Cameron via W.Va. 891 and U.S. 250 and back into Pennsylvania to a Chesapeake drilling site. It is being brought in separate pieces via more than 90 vehicles. While those two roads have seen an increase in traffic with the gas drilling boom in the region, smaller roads like Green Valley Road have been unaffected until now.

Cameron Police Chief Michael Younger said the move could have been complicated by an unusually busy weekend in Cameron, with Saturday's special gubernatorial election and Sunday's tanker task force practice exercises being conducted close to and on Green Valley Road. He said though the task force changed its routes in an effort to not conflict with drilling rig vehicles, the traffic still did not meet expectations.

"They can't haul equipment on weekends that is over dimension either in length or width," Younger said, adding that overweight vehicles can run at anytime, though they run the risk of facing fines and citations.

However, some smaller equipment did come through the area over the weekend, which kept Younger's department, as well as extra deputies from the Marshall County Sheriff's Department, busy.

"They are bringing in trailers that are half office, half living quarters for the site foremen," Younger said.

He added one of those trailers became stuck in a tree Friday night, which closed a portion of Green Valley Road for an extended period while the Cameron Fire Department worked to free it.

Additionally, Younger said he and his officers issued "a bunch" of citations to drivers of lead vehicles for having no proof of insurance and no driver's license. Details of those citations were not available Tuesday.

Stacey Brodak, director of corporate development for Chesapeake Energy said the lead drivers are hired as independent contractors by Chesapeake and are responsible for any violation or failure to follow the law.

"Any vendor that has a contract to do business with Chesapeake is responsible to follow all applicable rules and laws," she said. "Any of our vendors who do not comply with regulations could be suspended from doing work for us, and in some cases, even be removed from our approved vendor list."

Though the weekend was relatively slow, Younger said that means this week will be busier than expected as the rig will move through the area. Originally, the move was expected to be completed by today. However, Younger said it could take until Friday to get all the equipment through the city. Upon completion of this operation, a similar rig operated by another company will begin making its way on the same route.

An extended length of time also means new challenges, as Younger said crews from the West Virginia Department of Transportation will be cleaning ditches along Green Valley Road this week.

"They share that particular piece of ditch equipment through the region, so they use it when it is available," he said. "This happens to be the week they are in that area for normal maintenance."

Younger said the DOH crews are working around the schedule of truck traffic to ensure there are no major stoppages in the area. He added that thus far, traffic has continued to move without much issue.