Webinar: Shale Gas Impacts On Transportation

A Web-based seminar sponsored by Penn State Extension will examine how Marcellus Shale natural-gas development in Pennsylvania is affecting transportation patterns in the state. The 75-minute webinar will begin at 1 pm today (Thursday, Feb. 16). Presenters include Scott Christie, deputy secretary for highway administration with PennDOT, and Mark Murawski, Lycoming County planning and community development director and longtime transportation planner. Christie will discuss the ramifications of thousands of trips made by water trucks, seismic trucks, drilling rigs and construction equipment

Murawski will provide information about gas industry impacts on the road and bridge system in Lycoming County, as well as changes in freight and air service. He’ll also discuss the plan to develop a regional compressed natural gas fueling facility in the Williamsport area.

Information about how to register for the session is available on the webinar page of Penn State Extension’s natural-gas website at http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas/webinars.

Next webinar in the series, at 1 pm on March 15, will focus on municipalities’ roles related to water use and protection. Previous webinars, publications and information also are available on the Penn State Extension natural-gas website (http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas), covering topics such as seismic testing, air pollution from gas development; the gas boom’s effect on landfills; water use and quality; zoning; gas-leasing considerations for landowners; implications for local communities; gas pipelines and right-of-way issues; legal issues surrounding gas development; and the impact of Marcellus gas development on forestland.

For more information, contact John Turack, extension educator based in Westmoreland County, at (724) 837-1402 or by email at jdt15@psu.edu.