As the natural gas development gets under way in our region, many of us feel a bit helpless. We are concerned that our state's lack of regulation of the gas industry and the fact that the Pennsylvania DEP is struggling to keep up in its efforts to monitor existing regulations could be the recipe for environmental

disaster. Pine Creek Headwaters Protection Group, a watershed protection advocacy group based in Tioga County, has a solution — to mobilize citizen volunteers to scrutinize the activities of the gas industry.

They have been training "waterdogs" to observe and monitor. So far 80 waterdogs have been trained, and armed with a logbook, water sample containers, rubber gloves, and TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) meters, they have begun to observe the activities of the gas industry and monitor the impacts on water quality in their watershed. Volunteers are trained not just to monitor water quality and quantity but also to look for erosion and sedimentation, free gas, seismic wires over navigable waterways, road impacts, truck

traffic and noise, and litter and other refuse. Jerry Walls, a spokesman for the program, emphasizes that these volunteers are not vigilantes, but citizens who are paying attention. Each volunteer agrees to follow

procedures established by the program. Volunteers are instructed to put safety first, to never enter a drilling site without permission, and to avoid confrontation. Persons who act irresponsibly risk having their Waterdog registration revoked. The goal of the waterdogs is not to impede gas development but to see that it is done responsibly. The name of the program comes from an aquatic amphibian that is sensitive to pollution, also known as mud-puppies, common to Pennsylvania. To get information about the next training to become a "waterdog," contact Erica Tomlinson, a watershed specialist for the Tioga County Conservation District, at 570-724-1801 x118 or etomlinson@tiagocountypa.us.