The state Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, chaired by Sen.

Mary Jo White, R-21st, held a hearing Wednesday on Marcellus Shale natural gas wastewater treatment issues.The Marcellus Shale is a rock formation under about two-thirds of Pennsylvania and portions of New York and West Virginia and is believed to hold trillions of cubic feet of natural gas.Extracting natural gas from this shale formation requires a process used in drilling for decades known as hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking."After the well is drilled, large amounts of water, sand and other fluids are pumped into the shale formation under high pressure to fracture the shale around the well, which allows the natural gas to flow to the well bore.The used water must be reused in the next well or sent to an approved treatment facility.The committee heard from state Department of Environmental Protection officials, industry representatives and others."(Wednesday's) hearing provided an overview of the challenges faced from Marcellus Shale wastewater," White said, "and how we can best meet them."Hearing testimony, transcripts and video are posted on the committee Web site at www.senatormjwhite.com. Users are advised to click on "Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee."—-—-—The state Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved a measure by Sen.

Don White, R-41st, that would authorize the Corrections Department and county prisons to redistribute unopened prescription medicines.The bill would authorize correctional facilities to return the medicines to the pharmaceutical wholesaler for credit and potential redistribution to other correctional facilities."Correctional facilities are not currently authorized to do anything with these medications," White said. "Basically they must keep them on the shelves. That is a waste of resources at a time when the cost of Pennsylvania's correctional system and county jails is dramatically increasing,"The senator said he drafted the bill after discussions with officials from Diamond Pharmacy Services of White Township, Indiana County, the primary prescription drug supplier for the state Corrections Department.He said it has the support of both the Department of Corrections and the Department of State.—-—-—State Rep.

Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th, will host a Metcalfe Coffee and Conversation at 8:30 a.m. Friday at the Saxonburg Borough Building, 420 W. Main St.District residents are invited to attend to discuss with Metcalfe state government-related issues.Those interested in attending should contact his Cranberry Township district office at 724-772-3110 for information and to make reservations.