The obvious difference between the ordinance and the referendum is that the referendum calls for an outright ban while the ordinance places restrictions on operations. Peters Township opposes a township wide vote because it enacted an ordinance that it believes places reasonable zoning restrictions on natural gas drilling operations. The Awareness Group submitted a petition with 2,422 signatures of township residents to place the hydraulic fracturing ban on the ballot. The referendum is facing a legal challenge, though not from the drilling industry or property owners, but from Peters Township. It is believed that no municipality has ever held a voter referendum initiative to ban hydraulic fracturing, though there have been several attempts, most notably in the city of Pittsburgh.

The Peters Township Marcellus Shale Awareness group is attempting to have township residents vote on a referendum that amends the home rule charter to ban hydraulic fracturing. Activists opposed to natural gas drilling are taking a unique approach in an attempt to ban hydraulic fracturing in Peters Township, which is located in Washington County, Pennsylvania.

Peters township municipality