[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Independence 11-19-2008 by Ord. No. 08-08. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 160.
To the extent that oil and gas extraction is otherwise permitted by any and all other Independence Township ordinances and/or the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the same may take place subject to said ordinances, rules, regulations and/or requirements of the aforesaid.
Oil and gas extraction includes extraction of any oil or gas for sale or other commercial purpose which involves drilling or other means to remove such substance from the earth. The term "oil and gas" includes, but is not limited to, any crude oil, natural gas, methane gas and coal bed methane gas.
Any person or entity desiring to engage in oil and gas extraction shall pay a registration fee to Independence Township for each facility in the amount of $150.
No oil or gas extraction device shall be installed, constructed or used until a registration fee has been paid for each of said facilities and a specific site location has been provided to the Township for each of the same.
A. 
Each person or entity constructing and/or operating an oil or gas extraction facility shall abide, and be subject to, any and all other ordinances of Independence Township that therein pertain. To the extent that any other ordinance of the Township prohibits an oil or gas extraction facility in the proposed area or on the proposed site, said other ordinance shall take precedence.
B. 
Any ordinance or resolution inconsistent with this chapter shall take precedence, and to the extent that the same contains stricter requirements or limitations, the same shall prevail.
Any person or entity violating any provision of this chapter shall be subject to criminal prosecution for a summary offense, and therein, upon conviction, shall be subject to a fine of not less than $500 plus court costs and any and all fees incurred by the Township in prosecuting the same.
[Amended 5-16-2012; 5-21-2014]
The Township Supervisors, Code Enforcement Officer, and any other persons as may be designated by the Township Board of Supervisors is authorized to enforce this chapter.