BUTLER TWP — If you want to learn about Marcellus Shale natural gas, mark March 7, 8 and 9 on your calendar.

That is when Butler County Community College, the Butler County Chamber of Commerce and Penn State Cooperative Extension will offer three Marcellus Shale seminars at the college.

Marcellus Shale is a shale formation 5,000 feet to 8,000 feet below ground that contains an extremely large deposit of natural gas. In recent years, the oil and gas industry has found a way to tap that gas and it is now one of Western Pennsylvania’s fastest growing industries.

Stan Kosciuszko, chamber president, said the three sessions are geared to different interest groups.

“We started talking about how the chamber hadn’t really done anything with Marcellus Shale and thought informational sessions presented by Penn State Extension would help Butler County,” Kosciuszko said.

“What we found in asking around about the seminar is that at this point, Butler County is a little more educated about Marcellus Shale. So instead of offering Marcellus Shale 101, we’ll be offering Marcellus Shale 201,” he said.

Steve Catt, BC3’s executive director for Workforce Development, who developed similar meetings for Lawrence County in October, said having the three sessions helps the cooperative extension develop technical information specific to those groups.

“The landowners session is more for those starting the process of leasing their land to an energy firm or considering leasing,” Catt said, adding a Penn State University attorney will present information for Marcellus Shale leases and encourage people to deal with attorneys experienced in these documents.

Other university experts will talk about water quality and pipeline issues, and there will be a question and answer period.

Catt said each attendee will get a packet of Marcellus Shale information and the $10 registration fee helps to cover printing expenses.

The second session on March 8 is for municipal officials to discuss legal issues, including ordinances, infrastructure and public safety.

“The role we (BC3) are playing in training personnel for public safety in Marcellus Shale is quite sophisticated, and we want to get more municipalities involved,” Catt said.

The last session on March 9 is for businesses, suppliers, training organizations and companies, contractors, and industry representatives. It will include a breakfast and minibusiness expo.

“We want to make sure we are helping to establish an efficient networking system for industry officials and businesses,” Catt said.

The session will cover the impact of Marcellus Shale on the workforce, including needed education and training requirements, plus the procedures and opportunities in the industry.

“This is an industry that is moving fast and changing everyday,” Catt said. “We, as an institution of higher education, feel we must help to educate our residents in this area.”