Gas at a glance

• REVIEWS AND RIGHTS WON ON NATIONAL FOREST DRILLING

The U.S. Forest Service has agreed to conduct environmental reviews and the public has gained the right to provide comment on gas and oil drilling projects in the Allegheny National Forest, thanks to a settlement reached with environmental groups. Allegheny Defense Project, Sierra Club and Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics charged that the U.S. Forest Service was not conducting required reviews on several dozen drilling projects, thereby jeopardizing the environment and wildlife in the 800-square-mile forest.

The Forest Service estimates some 11,000 to 12,000 oil and gas wells are in production in the Allegheny. The environmental groups contend that drilling and numerous roads built in support of drilling projects can destroy wildlife habitat and hurt recreation opportunities.

Over the past 10 years, thousands of oil and gas wells have been drilled and more than 2,000 miles of roads have been built without environmental analysis and public comments.

In response, the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association (POGAM) has asked the federal court for a stay on the settlement and for the opportunity to review and comment on it. The court has scheduled a telephone conference on the matter for Thursday, April 16.

• CHESAPEAKE CHIEF AWARDED $75 MILLION

Even as large gas companies drilling in the Marcellus Shale are protesting a proposed severance tax similar to that imposed by 39 other states, Chesapeake Energy Corporation’s board of directors awarded a $75 million incentive payment to chief executive Aubrey McClendon in January and lowered the number of company shares he is required to own, as reported by Reuters. The $75 million is to offset drilling costs in oil and gas wells McClendon jointly owns with the company.

• GAS LEASING WORKSHOP IN HAWLEY, PA

A “Fundamentals of Natural Gas Exploration and Leasing” workshop will be conducted by Penn State Cooperative Extension on May 14, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Wallenpaupack Senior High School, Hawley PA.

Information on the Marcellus Shale and the methods used to extract natural gas will be presented. Landowner issues related to the advantages and disadvantages of leasing will be discussed. Pre-registration and payment of $10 is required by May 8. Make checks payable to PSCE Program Account and mail to Penn State Cooperative Extension, Pike County, 514 Broad St., Milford, PA 18337.

For more information call the Cooperative Extension office at 570/296-3400. Visit http://pike.extension.psu.edu/Programs.html to download a program brochure.