Pennsylvania Gas Rush Program

Call-in Broadcast: 7pm Thursday, May 22, 2008 airing on WPSU-TV and PCN

Program Summary: With residents across the state asking questions about the Marcellus Shale formation, natural gas exploration, mineral rights leasing and a number of other associated issues, WPSU-TV is responding with a one-hour live call-in program. On Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 7pm WPSU-TV and PCN will present “Pennsylvania’s Gas Rush.” This live state-wide call-in broadcast and web cast (http://wpsu.org/gasrush/) will offer objective and reliable advice for Pennsylvanians about the drilling and exploration development on leased land, the process of negotiating with gas companies, signing leases and creating addendums as well as information about financial, environmental and infrastructure impacts.

Hosted by Patty Satalia, the one-hour program will explore the natural gas issues with an expert panel including Tom Murphy, a Penn State cooperative extension educator well versed in many areas in regards to the natural gas exploration process; Lester Greevy, a lawyer from Williamsport specializing in mineral right leases and addendums; Ron Gilius, a representative from Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection focusing on environmental concerns in the state; and a gas industry representative TBC. Additionally, a phone bank of trustworthy experts (extension educators, another DEP representative and Ross Pifer from Dickinson School of Law) will also be on hand during the program to take calls from viewers and answer questions and direct them to resources in their area.

Workshop for Landowners Involved with Gas Leasing

Penn State Cooperative Extension announced that a workshop entitled "Understanding and Negotiating Natural Gas Leases" will be held on Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 at the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology at 540 North Harrison Road, Pleasant Gap, PA. The workshop will start at 7:00 p.m. and end at approximately 9:30 p.m. Speakers include Penn State Educators Involved with the Marcellus Shale development, a landowner's advocate and an experienced attorney who will discuss the intricacies, advantages, and disadvantages of signing a natural gas lease.

The Cost of the Workshop is $15.00. Please call the Centre County Extension Office to register to attend at (814) 355-4897. Most prior participants of these workshops have realized financial rewards worth thousands of dollars. This course is intended to inform you of the concerns you will need to address as a landowner considering a gas lease.

Bioenergy Opportunities from Pennsylvania Forests

Pennsylvania’s forests cover 60 percent of its land area and forestry is one of the Commonwealth’s most important economic sectors contributing over $5 billion to the economy annually. Most of the revenue from Pennsylvania’s forests comes from its high-quality hardwoods. However, there is potential for bioenergy production from small-diameter trees that are often left in the forest. Furthermore, underutilization and overcrowding of small-diameter trees hinders regeneration and future forest values. The Pennsylvania Hardwoods Small Diameter Task Force established by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources estimates that approximately 469 million tons of "low-use" wood across 16 million acres of forestland in the Commonwealth might be available for harvest as a bioenergy feedstock. In addition to this already standing volume of unused wood, there are thousands of acres of abandoned mine lands and old agricultural fields that could be planted in fast growing bioenergy species such as hydrid polar and American chestnut.

The looming energy crisis and the US effort to become more self-sufficient in energy use provide unique economic and environmental opportunities for Pennsylvania’s forest community. The forest products industry will benefit by diversifying markets for forest products. Experts agree that pulpwood and chip markets that have historically supplied wood to paper mills and engineered wood operations such as particleboard and medium density fiberboard plants are likely to continue to decline in Pennsylvania.

To read the full story go to:

http://paforeststewards.cas.psu.edu/News.html

New Chronic Wasting Disease Video Available

A 35 minute, high quality video entitled "Shedding Light on CWD" is now available for free viewing at the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance web site (link provided below). The video, produced in cooperation with American Outdoor Productions, covers the science behind CWD and its effects on deer and elk populations. Advice is provided for hunters on proper field- dressing and boning procedures, advice for complying with state carcass-transportation laws, and much more. DVD's of the video are also still available for sale at the CWD Alliance Web site.
http://www.cwd-info.org/
(Source: Quality Deer Management Association; Quality Whitetails, April 2008)