Posts Tagged ‘lucrative natural-gas formation’

By MARC LEVY Associated Press Writer

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) _ A top state environmental official says Pennsylvania is ill-equipped to handle the huge influx of interest in drilling for a potentially lucrative natural gas formation.

John Hanger, the acting secretary of the state Department of Environmental Protection, made the comments during a hearing in Harrisburg before the state House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

Hanger told lawmakers that he needs dozens more employees to review drilling permit applications and inspect drilling sites over the Marcellus Shale gas formation.

He also said he is concerned the state will run out of capacity to treat the contaminated water left over from the drilling process, but that state laws are largely adequate for protecting the environment.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press
Posted at: Times Leader

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) _ Five out-of-state companies are the high bidders for the right to drill for natural gas on more than 74,000 acres in Pennsylvania’s state forests.

The high bidders were among 17 companies that competed for the drilling rights over a potentially lucrative natural-gas formation known the Marcellus Shale. The 18 tracts that were put out to bid by the state forestry agency are located in Tioga and Lycoming counties in north-central Pennsylvania.

All together, the high bids total about $190 million.

Three of the companies are from Texas and two are from New York.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.

Posted at: Times Leader