Work begins on NOMAC housing facility

BY BRIAN BISHOP (STAFF WRITER)
Published: June 29, 2010

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Review Photo/BRIAN BISHOP Construction work on the future site of the NOMAC housing facility in Athens Township is currently underway.

ATHENS TWP. - Work has begun on a facility to house and train natural gas industry workers in Athens Township.

The facility will be built on a 12.5 acre lot on Lamoka Road and will contain 11 buildings in total, with six dormitory-style housing units with space for around 280 residents, according to planning documents for the project. The other buildings in the complex will be support buildings, such as a cafeteria and laundry facilities, so that the workers don't need to travel off site for basic necessities. Workers living at the facility would be delivered to the housing complex and work sites by van loads.

Plans for the facility include security fencing and surveillance.

The facility will also house NOMAC Drilling's Eastern Training Center. NOMAC is a subsidiary of Chesapeake Energy.

In a prepared statement, Brian Grove, director of corporate development for Chesapeake, said: "Work began last week at the site of NOMAC Drilling's Eastern Training Center in Athens Township. Land will be cleared and leveled, a minimal amount of trees cut and utility access established in preparation for installation of facilities on the site. Work will be continuing during the day only until the facility is complete, and training will begin shortly after the facility is completed and the rig crews have moved into the housing facility. The training will assist both new and experienced rig employees with ongoing regulatory and operational training."

Chesapeake spokesman Rory Sweeney said that with work just underway, it is difficult to predict a completion date for the project. Chesapeake should have a better idea of when the project will be finished in the coming months as work progresses, he said.

In June, 2009, officials from Athens Township toured a similar facility operated by Chesapeake in Circe, Ark. The Arkansas facility was "very well run," Athens Township Supervisor E. Maurice Fay has said, with tight security over who had access to the facility.

Brian Bishop can be reached at (570) 888-9652; or e-mail: bbishop@thedailyreview.com.

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