The explosion last month in a Marcellus Shale gas well in Clearfield County focused increased scrutiny on the industry's practices and risks. And the recent documentary Gasland - whose facts have been questioned since its release - portrayed the industry as reckless and money-hungry.
"We have taken a hit," said Gittins, the Marcellus Shale Coalition executive committee member who is also vice president of public affairs for Dallas-based Chief Oil & Gas. "It's up to us as an industry to educate people about what we do so that there is a comfort level."
Starting next month, she said, the coalition will roll out a public outreach campaign that will include community meetings and gas-drilling tours, as well as meetings with local business leaders and editorial boards.
Beyond public relations, the industry is pushing key legislative changes.
In Pennsylvania, among the most pressing issues are when and how much to tax natural-gas extraction and how to disburse that money. Legislators are supposed to grapple with these questions in the fall.
A battle is also brewing over legislation the industry is seeking that would require holdout landowners to lease drilling rights to their land if a majority of property owners in that area have already done so.
"The bottom line," said political analyst Madonna, "is that everybody wants something.
"And they are going to position themselves, in the best way they can, to get what they want."
Contact staff writer Angela Couloumbis at 717-787-5934 or acouloumbis@phillynews.com.
Inquirer staff writer John P. Martin contributed to this article.
