'Webinars' On Natural Gas Issues. Check back soon for updated information on a series of Penn State Cooperative Extension seminars on issues related to Marcellus Shale natural gas production, available free through the internet. Registration information is available at http://naturalgas.extension.psu.edu/Events.htm. Previous webinars, which covered topics such as water use and quality, legal questions, gas-leasing considerations and implications for local communities, can be viewed at http://naturalgas.extension.psu.edu/webinars.htm. For more information, contact Joann Kowalski, extension educator in Susquehanna County, at 570-278-1158 or by e-mail at jmk20@psu.edu.

Program On Drilling's Risks March 29. A public program entitled, “The Risks and Dangers of Natural Gas Drilling,” will be presented at Mansfield University on Monday, March 29, at 7 pm in the Grant Science Center. Professor Russell Dodson, chairman of the Geology Department at Mansfield, has scheduled the program, which will include a showing of the documentary, “Split Estate,” focusing on some of the negative impacts from intensive production of natural gas from shale deposits in the West. Dr. Dodson and Tioga County Planning Director Jim Weaver will be available to answer questions on how the examples depicted in the film could apply to northern Pennsylvania.

Learn About Drilling Impact On Forests, Wildlife. Potter County Education Council in Coudersport will host a natural gas seminar offered by the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford.  Minimizing Impacts to Forests and Wildlife will be presented on Wednesday, March 24, from 6-8 pm. Registration deadline is March 23. For more information or to register, call 814-274-4877.

Heavyweights Coming To Marcellus Shale Policy Conference. How should Pennsylvania construct a regulatory framework for the development of the Marcellus Shale formation that allows industry to prosper while also protecting our environment and communities?  That will be debated by members of oil and gas industry, environmental organizations, government leaders, scientists, and other interested stakeholders May 3-4 at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. They'll discuss:

• What are the most important unresolved regulatory issues concerning development, including frack water management, siting criteria, post-development operations, and long-term responsibility?
• What are the lessons learned from past resource development?
• What have other states done that may prove useful for Pennsylvania?

An outline of the conference agenda may be found here. Please check www.pecpa.org/marcellus for updates, including registration information.

Among participants: John Hanger, DEP Secretary; Nels Johnson, The Nature Conservancy; Kathryn Klaber, Marcellus Shale Coalition; David Masur, PennEnvironment; Scott Perry, DEP Bureau of Oil & Gas Management,
John Quigley, DCNR Acting Secretary; J. Scott Roberts, DEP Mineral Resources Management; and Matt Royer, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Please check back frequently, as this page will be updated regularly!