Citizen Shale hosting program this week

Presentation Thursday at Garrett College

For the Cumberland Times-News Cumberland Times-News


MCHENRY — Citizen Shale will present a free educational program Thursday at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Garrett College.
The speakers, Paul Durham, government affairs director for the Garrett County Board of Realtors and Emily Wurth of the Washington-based Food and Water Watch, will discuss economic issues, particulary land values, land use, and jobs claims as they relate to shale gas development.
The program is free and open to the public.
Durham’s talk is an opportunity for leaseholders to understand the impact of gas development on their land values, mortgage potential, and general enjoyment of land, which brings a great value to many of the properties in Western Maryland.
Wurth will discuss Food and Water Watch’s analysis of industry and government job claims and other economic impacts of the gas extraction industry.
“We are very excited to bring this timely information to our community,” said Natalie Atherton, Citizen Shale’s acting director. “Our county’s financial health is greatly dependent on real estate, especially vacation real estate, and local realtors are stepping up to the challenges associated with gas leasing. And Emily Wurth brings tremendous knowledge of another critical aspect of gas-drilling — jobs.”
Durham will outline the local realtors’ plan for a Maryland gas lease registry that the local board submitted to a state commission studying shale gas development. If enacted into law this spring by the General Assembly, the registry would require everyone who has leased their property for future gas development to record details of the lease at a state-run office, such as, locally, the Department of Assessments and Taxation at the Garrett County Courthouse in Oakland.
For more information, visit the website, www.citizenshale.org, or call Paul Roberts at 301-746-4287.

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