Open Records Office Denies Range Resources' Appeal for Cecil Correspondence

The state's Office of Open Records on Thursday denied an appeal by Range Resources for correspondence and other information from Cecil Township.

Range had requested through a Right to Know request information regarding the township's oil and gas ordinance, meeting minutes and correspondence from township officials, its solicitor and state Rep. Jesse White regarding the Southpointe-based company and its employees.

The township released some documents to Range that the company had requested—although it denied access to other information based upon the attorney-client privilege and other expemptions.

Range Resources has several lawsuits against the township, which are pending.

The township also argued that the request for information regarding correspondence about Range and its employees could not be released because the request was "over-broad."

The Office of Open Records agreed.

"Further, and more significantly, (Range) seeks all records 'involving, referring or relating to ... any employee, agent or representative' of (the company). Such wording is too vague to enable the township to ascertain which records are being requested, as it would require a value judgment as to exactly when a record would involve, refer, or relate to a particular person," the opinion read.

Range Resources has 30 days to appeal the decision to the Washington County Court of Common Pleas.

To read the entire 11-page decision, click here.