Mar. 4--HONESDALE -- As a landowner in Pleasant Mount Twp., Trevor Walczak learns as much as he can about the natural gas industry to protect his interests.

That is why Mr. Walczak attended a program on Tuesday about natural gas exploration, infrastructure and development. About 70 people turned out for the Penn State Cooperative Extension Program.

He noted that changing regulations have prevented some companies from moving quickly to develop the Marcellus Shale.

With a slowdown in leasing activity, Mr. Walczak said: "Now is the time to study as much as you can."

Mr. Walczak added that regulators stopped Stone Energy Corp. from developing a well in June in Clinton Twp., near Creamton.

The company failed to secure approval from the Delaware River Basin Commission before it began to develop the well, DRBC spokesman Clarke Rupert said.

The Louisiana company is now seeking approval from the DRBC to withdraw 21 million gallons of water in a 30-day period from the west branch of the Lackawaxen River.

According to Stone Energy's engineering firm, Farnham & Associates Inc. of Scranton, about 1 million gallons of water will be used to hydraulically fracture the well.

David Kovach, DRBC geologist and hydrologist, said on Tuesday that Stone Energy's application is under review.

He added communicating with natural gas companies is one activity the DRBC is undertaking as it streamlines the regulatory process.

"We're really concerned about water withdrawals and discharges," Mr. Kovach said. "We're talking about pristine watersheds in the area."

Along with concern about effects of natural gas drilling on the environment, Penn State Educator Dave Messersmith said drinking water quality is also an issue.

After noting recent reports of high-levels of methane discovered in private wells in Dimock Twp., Susquehanna County, Mr. Messersmith talked about how homeowners can detect methane in their drinking water. Symptoms of methane in drinking water include a bubbling noise in a well, Mr. Messersmith said.

While Lake Twp. resident Cindy Galley wants her land protected, she also thinks DRBC regulations are preventing the natural gas industry from developing in Wayne County. She added the DRBC process is not streamlined.

Even with regulatory challenges, natural gas companies, however, continue to search for land.

"There is a lot of activity again in the courthouse; they are starting to do some leasing again," Ms. Galley said.

For more on natural gas drilling visit:

thetimes-tribune.com/gasdrilling/

Contact the writer: jmrozinski@timesshamrock.com

-----

To see more of The Times-Tribune or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/.

Copyright (c) 2009, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

NYSE:SGY,

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.