Nov.1 Lansing, NY Impact of Marcellus Shale Gas Development on Rivers, Streams and Forests

ANNOUNCING

Lessons from Pennsylvania: Impact of Marcellus Shale Gas Development on Rivers, Streams and Forests

……………………………………..

A Free, Public, Educational Forum on the Effects of Gas Extraction on Recreation, Hunting, Fishing, Hiking, etc.

Monday, November 1, 2010

7:00 – 9:00 pm

Lansing Middle School Auditorium

6 Ludlowville Road, Lansing, NY

High volume, slick water, hydraulic fracturing (hydro-fracking) to take natural gas from the Marcellus Shale has been going on in Pennsylvania for the past three years. Hydro-fracking includes withdrawing millions of gallons of water from nearby rivers, lakes, and streams, mixing it with chemicals, and injecting the solution under high pressure into the shale to release the gas.

What has been the effect of Marcellus gas development on the people who use the outdoors for recreation? What has been the effect on their hiking, fishing, biking, birding, hunting, camping, boating, family outings, sightseeing?

Pennsylvanians and those who have studied the effects will share what they have learned, and they will take questions from the audience at this free, educational forum.

Intended Audience

People who enjoy the outdoors for recreation, hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, birding, hunting, camping, boating, family outings, and sightseeing.  In addition, anyone who seeks more information about the effects of Marcellus gas development in Pennsylvania on their natural environment should attend.

Speakers:

• Katy Dunlap, Trout Unlimited, Eastern Water Project Director. Ms. Dunlap will talk about changes in trout water, ranging from small mountain streams to the Delaware River, and what some members of Trout Unlimited are doing about the changes they see.
• Shellie Northrop, member and volunteer of several PA and NY hiking clubs and trail associations.  Through Ms. Northrop’s years of hiking and contact with other hikers, she is able to describe the impact of drilling activities for hikers in the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania.  She will also use examples in PA to offer suggestions of how those of us in NY can take action now that will help protect our wilderness areas.
• Bill Belitskus, Allegheny Defense Project, Board President. Mr. Belitskus has been hiking, camping and recreating in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny National Forest for over 35 years, and is now watching the fragmentation of forest, truck traffic, and disruption from having 50% of the National Forest leased for drilling.  He will discuss one of the critical issues of deep shale extraction: withdrawal of water from streams and rivers, and riparian rights of landowners to protect waterways.

Sponsors: Social Ventures, ROUSE, Dryden Resource Awareness Coalition (DRAC), Cornell Outdoor Education, Cayuga Lake Watershed Network, and others

Contact information: Sara Hess, 607-272-6394.