Gas news at a glance

• Back tax threat brings counter-threat: Protestors have threatened to sue Bradford County Commissioners over their interpretation of the state’s Clean and Green law, according to the Daily Review in Towanda, PA (January 30). Landowners enrolled in the program who have leased their land for gas drilling must pay potentially large tax penalties within 60 days of the start of drilling. The protestors want the payment delayed until the wells go into commercial production. Clean and Green provides a reduction in property taxes for land limited to special uses such as agriculture, but the savings is forfeited when a landowner agrees to lease it for gas extraction, thereby changing its use. Back taxes then become due.

• Gas learning online: Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences is hosting a series of free online seminars focused on natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale. Slated for February 19 is “Third-Party or Off-site Impacts: Water Use and Water Quality Issues,” presented by Bryan Swistock, Penn State water resources extension specialist. Visit live.psu.edu/story/36528 to see the full list of upcoming webinars.

• Columbia studies gas issues: The Upper Delaware Preservation Coalition, the Earth Institute Urban Design Lab and the Environmental Law Clinic at Columbia University met in Lackawaxen, PA on January 31 for a Gas Drilling Information Summit. Columbia students and faculty were provided with materials and an overview of regional natural gas issues. They will spend the spring semester focused on the project, which is expected to culminate in a report and publication. For more information call 646/205-2723 or email udpc@udpc.net.