Residents Attend Findlay Open House on Shale Drilling

More than 150 people turned out at a Marcellus shale open house in Findlay Township Monday night, the Post-Gazette reports. 

The event, held at the Findlay Township Activity Center in Imperial, was planned as an informational session for residents with questions about shale extraction that is set to take place on county-owned land surrounding Pittsburgh International Airport, much of which lies in Findlay and Moon. 

Residents were able to ask questions about drilling's economic impact, and air concerns about its potential health hazards. 

From the Post-Gazette: 

"We're ready," said Terry Mamone of Findlay, who is paying tuition for her 20-year-old son to attend college and already has leased gas rights on the family's 243-acre property to Range Resources. "I'm getting to the point in my life when I'd like to spend some money."

Allegheny County Council is expected to enter into a 20-year agreement with Cecil-based energy provider Consol Energy.

Under the proposed agreement, Consol has agreed to pay the airport authority a lump sum of $50 million in addition to an 18-percent royalty on annual natural gas proceeds generated from airport land. 

The deal could net more than $500 million for the airport. 

What are your thoughts on the airport drilling deal? Tell us in the comments.