PEC Releases Marcellus Shale Recommendations. Don Welsh, President of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council today released a report calling for swift action on new regulations and greater oversight of drilling and extraction of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formation, a major gas field that lies deep beneath much of Pennsylvania.
Called “Developing the Marcellus Shale,” the report challenges state government and the natural gas industry to adopt more stringent standards for drilling and extraction to prevent the kind of environmental impacts that have occurred throughout Pennsylvania’s industrial past.
Related Video
John Walliser, PEC Vice President, reviews report recommendations.

Mine Drainage Generates Electric. The Loyalhanna Watershed Association in Westmoreland County recently hosted a “Turning on of Lights Ceremony”. Besides the unique name of the event, what makes this really special is that the electricity used to power the lights was generated from Abandoned Mine Drainage.
Since 2005, Loyalhanna Watershed Association has been working on the Saxman Run Mine Drainage Treatment and Hydroelectric Project. They faced all of the trials and tribulations persistent with any other AMD project but faced the additional hurtle of being a pioneer in this type of electricity generation.
Recently, they were finally able to host a dedication for this one-of-a-kind project. The celebration culminated with the turning on a string of lights using electricity generated by the flow of the AMD.
This video was published on the Abandoned Mine Posts webpage by the Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation and was written by Anne Daymut, Watershed Coordinator.

Rep. David Levdansky (D-Allegheny) joins other legislators and environmental groups at a press conference today to talk about the need to adopt a natural gas production severance tax to fund environmental programs, urge passage of a moratorium on further leasing of State Forest land for drilling and to express their support for updated drilling regulations to protect water quality.
Here are videos of three of the speakers--
Jan Jarrett, President & CEO of PennFuture
Don Welsh, President & CEO of PA Environmental Council
NewsClips
House Yanks Vote On Marcellus Shale Tax
Disagreements Delay Proposed Marcellus Shale Gas Tax
Sen. Ferlo Wants Moratorium On Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling

Penn's Woods, Stream Buffers, Nature's Water Purifier. Next time you walk through a forest, imagine that the trees are affixed to the end of your kitchen faucet like a large green purifier, cleaning the water before it splashes, crystal-clear and cool, into your drinking glass. Watch this video and see from The Nature Conservancy-Pennsylvania.

A sampler of Pennsylvania birdwatching is presented in this unique video by Pennsylvania Audubon. Learn more about John James Audubon's home at Mill Grove, Pa, the Audubon at Home program, Important Bird Areas of PA and more.