Natural gas drilling in Marcellus shale using a process called hydraulic fracturing is a controversial extraction method that has been a hot topic in New York for the past few years.  Although Greene County is not within the bulls-eye of the natural gas drilling region, it is underlain by Marcellus & Utica shale and has potential to be an area where drilling takes place.  In an effort to educate our staff, municipal leaders and interested residents on this complex topic, we will be re-broadcasting several Cornell University-sponsored webinars that are available on the Internet.  These webinar broadcasts are intended to be a non-confrontational opportunity to learn about Marcellus shale and community considerations in natural gas production.  It is our hope that broadcasting this series will help attendees to develop their own opinion on this subject based on research-tested information.  The Why Geology Matters webinar was presented by Robert Ross and Trisha Smrecak of Cornell’s Paleontological Research Institute in July 2010