Several hundred people packed the gym at Lakeshore High School in Mandeville Wednesday night for a meeting about a hydraulic fracturing well proposed about a mile away.
The Helis Oil and Gas project is designed to use a process known as fracking, and is strongly opposed by some residents. They’re worried about the underground well contaminating the community water supply. And they say it’s an inappropriate use of the land.
Helis wants to tap into shale with a 13,000-foot well on 960 acres near the high school.
The meeting was held by the state Office of Conservation. It’s considering the Helis permit application.
The Army Corps of Engineers is considering a permit application to drill in wetlands. The state is also deciding a water quality permit. St. Tammany Parish has filed a lawsuit to stop the project.
No decision was made at last night’s meeting.
Public comment will be accepted by the state through Wednesday afternoon.
