Marcellus Shale

The Marcellus Shale is a black shale formation that is located beneath the Appalachian basin and most of Pennsylvania. Considered to be one of the largest sources of natural gas in America, there is great interest surrounding the economic potential of drilling in the Marcellus Shale. However there are also serious environmental concerns. The Council’s Marcellus Shale Program tracks a wide variety of air quality issues associated with natural gas drilling in the Marcellus formation.

 

The Council will examine the natural gas drilling process in Pennsylvania to identify sources of emissions and to ensure that each emission source is adequately regulated at the federal and state level. The Council will also identify best management practices and best available technologies that will be incorporated into future regulations.

 

The Council will compare air regulations and policies of the Pennsylvania DEP’s various regional offices to ensure enforcement of regulations and to advocate for consistency where necessary. The Council will review and track issued permits to ensue that regional offices are applying policies and regulations as required.

 

The Council is committed to interacting with community members about shale-related activities and regulations. The Council maintains a database of interested local officials, media, NGOs, and residents interested in getting email alerts and updates on Marcellus Shale developments. The Council has a constant presence at community meetings and industry conferences to stay at the front line of this emerging natural gas play.