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Lackawanna College Predicts 90,000 New Jobs from Marcellus Drilling, Offers New Degree in Oil & Gas Production Technology

It seems drilling in the Marcellus is not only good for landowners and energy companies, but also for education and jobs. From an article published on iStockAnalyst (reprinted from The Daily Review, Towanda, PA):

Lackawanna College will begin offering an associate’s degree this fall in natural gas technology to prepare students to work in the growing local natural gas industry, and many of the required courses for the degree will be offered at the college’s Towanda Center.

In addition, Lackawanna College will soon start giving accounting students at the college’s Towanda Center the option of customizing their degree to prepare them to work in the accounting side of the natural gas industry, said Larry D. Milliken, director of energy programs at the college.

And the college is in the process of contracting with Sage Technical Services of Vestal, N.Y., so that its Towanda Center can again offer training to students who wish to obtain a commercial driver’s license, as there will be a large number of trucks required when drilling for gas, he said.

And this on the number of new jobs that will be created from Marcellus drilling activities:

“Development of the Marcellus Shale gas is expected to generate over 90,000 jobs over the next 20 years,” states a press release from Lackawanna College, which this week announced the launching of the natural gas technology program. “This kind of job growth and economic stimulus to northeastern Pennsylvania will be transforming to our region and to the lives of those people who get the technical education and training needed to take advantage of the best job opportunities as they arise.”

The new applied science degree in Oil and Gas Production Technology will be available at the college’s main campus in Scranton, and some of the other satellite locations, in addition to Towanda.

For more information about the new program, read the article Lackawanna College to Offer Natural Gas Technology Degree, read Lackawanna College’s news release, or contact Lackawanna College’s Department of Continuing Education at (570) 961-7883.

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West Virginia DEP Wants Your Comments on Water Use in Marcellus Drilling

From an article in the Charleston Daily Mail (obviously adapted from a press release):

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Department of Environmental Protection announced it is seeking public comment on a draft document that addresses drillers’ water use and disposal in the Marcellus Shale formation.

Department secretary Randy Huffman said in a prepared statement, “New advancements in drilling technology have created increased interest in exploring the Marcellus Shale formation in New York, Pennsylvania, and recently in West Virginia. What we are concerned about is the increase in the amount of water used and the disposal of wastewater that results from using these new drilling techniques.”

The department will accept comments about the document until April 17. The document can be viewed online at www.wvdep.org/marcellusguidance. Comments about the draft can be submitted by e-mail to [email protected] or mailed to the Public Information Office at 601 57th Street SE, Charleston, WV 25304.

Make your voice heard! You have until two days after tax day to comment.

Direct link to the draft document: www.wvdep.org/FrontNews/Marcellus Guidance Document.pdf

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Three Jay Township Supervisors Reject Access to Water for EOG Resources

Three Jay Township supervisors have voted to deny access to water to EOG Resources for drilling in Elk County, Pennsylvania. EOG had requested access to the Bennetts Branch of the Sinnemahoning Creek by driving across township-owned land, specifically near a ball field.

According to the Courier-Express/Tri-County Sunday (DuBois) newspaper:

During Thursday’s Jay Township Supervisors meeting, the supervisors said they would not give EOG permission to use township land to access the stream because they still have a lot of unanswered questions.

EOG wants to withdraw the water for gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale, Supervisor Murray Lilley said.

Since October or November 8, the township has received three requests to withdraw water from various streams in the township, Supervisor Bob Coppolo said.

In each case, a letter was written by the supervisors to the Susquehanna River Basin Commission and copied to elected officials and the Department of Environmental Protection expressing concern.

The township is concerned about having water trucks going in and out of a recreation area where youth gather and play.

There are also questions of if the township would be liable if anything happens since it would be on township property.

And this interesting comment:

Asked by a resident if the township had to allow the company access to the stream, Coppolo said, “It’s our property.”

Although it is a favorable time economically to have this type of work, it is also important to preserve the community and the beauty of the area, he said.

Marcellus Drilling News thoughts: Hopefully Supervisor Coppolo means “our” as in the people of the township and not the private fifedom of he and his fellow supervisors. We encourage Supervisor Coppolo to talk with ALL of the people in the township, including landowners who have leased their property for drilling.

Read the full article: Township denies request to access water