On the evening of Nov. 13, Marcellus Outreach Middlesex (associated with Marcellus Outreach Butler) hosted a two-hour presentation by Stephen Cleghorn, a farmer from Reynoldsville, Jefferson County.

Cleghorn illustrated some of the history of drilling for natural gas, as well as many of the dangers inherent in that process.

He pointed out that in Western Pennsylvania we are guinea pigs in the development of slick water hydraulic fracturing to obtain the gas in the Marcellus Shale because adequate research into the hazards has not taken place up to now.

At this stage in the process, he concluded, we need to have a moratorium on drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale until there has been more research into the potential hazards to our water, the air and the environment.

The presentation was very well attended — with standing room only. This session clearly pointed to the need for more grass-roots education in this field. The gas-drilling companies have no trouble getting their viewpoint across through their advertising on television and by way of billboards.

We would like to thank the Middlesex Township supervisors and township manager for the use of the meeting room in the township building.