Marcellus Workshop Offered at W&J
Washington PA Observer
Reporter
1 January 2011
A project to involve citizens in the monitoring of Marcellus Shale gas
drilling activities kicks off with a training session this month at
Washington & Jefferson College.
The Marcellus Citizen Stewardship Project is an initiative of the
Mountain Watershed Association and the Center for Healthy Environments
and Communities at the University of Pittsburgh. The project, which is
being piloted in the Youghiogheny River watershed but is expected to
spread throughout the Southwestern Pennsylvania region, provides
citizens with tools and knowledge to responsibly monitor Marcellus
Shale development to aid in community and environmental protection.
The training will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 27 in Room 114 of
W&J's Burnett Building.
Participants will learn to use their senses of sight, hearing and smell
to identify potential issues resulting from drilling operations.
Data gathered through this visual assessment process is uploaded using
simple online forms and eventually is integrated into FracTracker, an
interactive data platform providing citizens with a common place to
learn about and share information on Marcellus Shale gas operations.
Participants will have the opportunity to sign up for further
instructions in air or water monitoring.
"While the Department of Environmental Protection has increased
inspection and enforcement, it's impossible for their inspectors to be
everywhere at once," said Veronica Coptis, Mountain Watershed
Association's community organizer. "Citizens can play a very important
role in monitoring Marcellus development, and our trainings give
citizens the tools necessary to safely and effectively provide
oversight."
The association is partnering with such organizations as Clean Water
Action, Group Against Smog and Pollution, Three Rivers Waterkeeper and
PennEnvironment.
For more information about the Marcellus Citizen Stewardship Project or
to inquire about other scheduled trainings, visit http://www.mtwatershed.com or
call Coptis at 724-455-4200.