Marcellus community satisfaction survey

Yes. You read that correctly.  If you're interested in finding out the results of Penn State's survey, tune in (on your pc!) September 16, from 1-2pm.  As with most webinars, you must register to attend.  To register or for more information, click HERE.  Also with most webinars, it will likely be archived so that it can be viewed at a later date (for those of us who have day jobs).

Penn State needs volunteers for research project on the potential effects of fracking on rural water supplies

PSU Research Project: Water Well Near Gas Drilling

Penn State’s School of Forest Resources along with several Penn State Cooperative Extension county offices have received funding from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Water Resources Research Center to conduct a research study on the potential impacts of Marcellus gas drilling on rural drinking water supplies.

This web site describes the criteria for selecting participants in this research study. Please read over the following information to determine if you may be eligible and interested in participating in this study.

If you are interested in participating, please fill out the Eligibility Survey below. Since participant numbers are limited, submitting the form does not guarantee participation in the study. Your decision to be involved with this research is voluntary.

• You must be 18 years of age or older to consent to take part in this research study.
• The data collected from this study is for research purposes.
• This research involves testing and data collection from two participant groups described below.
• All participants in both parts of this study will receive results from their water tests in approximately six weeks.
• The results of your water tests may demonstrate that you have a contaminated drinking water supply. If that is the case, you will be notified of the contamination and you will receive recommendations and information from water quality specialists at Penn State.

If you feel that you may be eligible and interested in participating in one of the study groups outlined below, please complete the Eligibility Survey by clicking HERE and submit your application for possible participation in this study.

Click HERE for information on the 2nd Participation Group which begins in Fall 2010.

Gas company creates endowment for local 4-H

Yes, it's a great thing there's now an endowment for 4-H students but am I the only one who smells something rotten here?  Maybe future 4-H'ers can use it to study how to get our landscape, waterways and wells back after the gas companies have used 'em up, spit 'em out, pulled up stakes and left town.  Not to be snarky or anything.

Source: Wellsboro Gazette  3.3.2010
East Resources, Inc. today signed an agreement with Penn State’s Cooperative Extension Service to create a new 4-H endowment fund for Tioga County. East created the endowment with an initial principal investment of $50,000. The fund will be used to supplement financial support for the Tioga County 4-H program and may include educational awards for 4-H members.

“East Resources has a major stake in Tioga County’s future through its oil and gas interests, and our contribution to this endowment reflects East’s commitment to help sustain that future,” says Bob Long, the company’s executive vice president. “Tioga County’s young men and women are the key to the long-term health of our communities, and we appreciate the significant role that the county 4-H program plays in helping them grow into productive, self-directed citizens.”

“4-H, an outreach program of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, is a major youth mentoring program that teaches life skills and leadership using science based programs,” noted Dennis Calvin, interim director of Penn State Cooperative Extension. “This generous financial gift for the Tioga County 4-H endowment made by East Resources will help assure that generations of youth will have access to 4-H programs. It will also provide assurance that these youth grow into future local, state, national, and international leaders.”

“Those of us involved with the Tioga County 4-H Program, including the staff here at Tioga County Cooperative Extension, the many dedicated volunteer leaders and 4-H members are very appreciative of East Resources’ generosity,” Robert S. Hansen, D.F., the Tioga County Extension director, said. “Their donation to the Tioga County 4-H Endowment will make it possible for Tioga County 4-H youth to participate in state and national events that otherwise they may not be able to attend.”

East Resources, Inc. is an independent oil and gas producer in the Appalachian and Rocky Mountain regions of the United States. East is one of the most active oil and gas explorers in the Appalachian region and is making significant investments in the responsible development of natural gas from the Marcellus shale. The company holds approximately 900,000 gross acres of Marcellus shale rights in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York, and it employs more than 355 office and field personnel with approximately 60 employees in Tioga County.

Public Notice: Web seminar to cover issues related to natural gas leases

A Web seminar to address ongoing implications of natural gas leases will be available January 21 @ 1pm.  While many landowners across Pennsylvania have signed lease agreements with natural gas exploration companies, new questions - which may or may not be clear in the original leases - continue to emerge. A discussion of these questions will be the focus of a free Web-based seminar titled, "Post Leasing - Considerations of What Happens Next, Lessons Learned to Date."

Sponsored by Penn State Cooperative Extension, the seminar will provide information about the scope of existing and additional lease agreements. The seminar will address some of the trends landowners have been observing as the gas extraction phase begins to ramp up in many parts of the state. Some of these trends include negotiations with landowners for siting the well pad, lease extensions, the addition of roads, pipelines, sound mitigation and the need for timbering. The seminar is available by going to PSU's Cooperative Extension events site.  Online participants will have the opportunity to ask the speaker questions during the session. 

The seminar is part of an ongoing series of workshops addressing issues related to the state's Marcellus Shale gas boom. One-hour seminars also will be held at 1 p.m. on the following dates:

Feb. 18: "Underground Injection Wells as an Option for Disposal of Shale Gas Wastewaters: Policies and Practicality." The presenter will be Karen Johnson, chief, Groundwater and Enforcement Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 3

March 18: "The Impact of Marcellus Shale: What Do the Economic Impact Studies Imply?" Presenter will be Timothy Kelsey, Penn State Cooperative Extension state program leader. 

For more information, contact Joann Kowalski, extension educator in Susquehanna County, at 570-278-1158 or jmk20@psu.edu.