MURRYSVILLE COUNCIL DENIES PETITION TO RESCIND GAS AND OIL LEASES

A petition to rescind gas and oil leases under park land has been denied by Murrysville Council.  The Trib reports that just over a year ago, council members entered into an agreement with Olympus Energy for oil and gas rights under the township’s two largest parks.  Last week, members of nonprofit environmental group Protect PT presented a petition opposing the leases, with sufficient signatures to force a council vote.  Council voted unanimously to deny the petition. Murrysville’s solicitor said council would be in greater legal jeopardy by breaking the contracts they signed last year, for which Murrysville has received more than $2 million.