MODEL PLAN FOR IDENTIFYING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS FROM THE EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL GAS FROM THE MARCELLUS SHALE IN SULLIVAN COUNTY PA

Over the past four years, the natural gas Industry has been focusing its interest on developing natural gas from the Marcellus shale in Sullivan County, PA. Many leases between private land owners and the industry have been finalized. The Lake Makoma Association (LMA), with the aid of environmental expertise from the private and public sectors, are working together to develop a plan to evaluate options for monitoring and reducing possible impacts from natural gas development in Sullivan County. The model approach will primarily include habitat assessment, groundwater monitoring, surface water quality monitoring.