The Local Government Academy, in partnership with Washington & Jefferson College’s Center for Energy Policy and Management, and sponsored by W&J’s Shale Gas Knowledge Hub, is presenting, “Land Use, Zoning, and Addressing Impacts of Shale Gas Drilling After the PA Supreme Court Act 13 Rulings,” as part the Managing Marcellus series. Pennsylvania municipalities experiencing shale gas development need to know how best to address gas industry impacts following the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and Commonwealth Court decisions.

This program will look at the various community development and zoning issues confronting municipalities, including issues of planning and regulation, community impact, property rights and interactions with other regulators, such as the state Department of Environmental Protection. Panels of planners and lawyers experienced in local government and shale gas issues will present analysis of the situation, consider possible community objectives and review a range of responses available for communities based on actual experience.

Speakers include:

•Jack Ubinger, Environmental Policy Advisor

•Kurt Klapkowski, PA Department of Environmental Protection
•Denny Puko, PA DCED Governor’s Center for Local Government Services
•Allen Cohen, Cohen Municipal Planning Consultants

•John Trant, Strategic Solutions LLC