NORWICH – With the prospect of continued natural gas drilling at a handful of well sites in Chenango County this winter, some municipal officials are calling for standardized laws that would protect them from damages caused by heavy truck traffic and noise.

Norse Energy Inc. is poised to drill five wells in the towns of Afton, Coventry and Preston, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation website. To be prepared, town boards are scrambling to maintain control over whatever they can.

Town of Afton Supervisor Robert Briggs, whose town board is on the verge of adopting a road ordinance, said a county-wide “blanket law” for roadways would be helpful. The law his town is currently considering might be too restrictive, he said.

“I don’t think we should all be coming up with all different laws (for roadway protection),” said the Republican and once former chairman of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors.

Chenango County isn’t providing any uniform laws pertaining to regulating natural gas drilling, however. Samples of ordinances that are already in place in some towns are available from the Planning and Economic Development Department.

Provisions under Environmental Conservation Law, Real Property Tax Law and Vehicle Traffic Law give local governments jurisdiction over local roads. Village, town and city officials can post roads, establish weight limits or issue hauling permits, for example.

Municipalities may also request a specific condition on DEC-issued drilling permits that would require drillers to comply with local laws.