Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) will host an informational meeting on Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. January 19 in the large auditorium at Delaware County Community College, 901 S. Media Line Road, Media.

“The purpose of this meeting is to educate the public and policy makers about the environmental and fiscal issues surrounding Marcellus Shale gas extraction. This will be an issue of increasing importance in the upcoming decade,” Rep. Vitali said.

Speakers include:

-- Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger,

-- Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary John Quigley,

-- Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center Executive Director Sharon Ward,

-- Chesapeake Energy Vice President of Government Affairs David Spigelmyer, and

-- East Resources General Manger for Environment, Health and Safety Scott Blauvelt.

Speakers will discuss the impact of drilling on water quality, the leasing of additional state forest land for drilling, and the imposition of a natural gas severance tax.

The public will be invited to participate in a question-and-answer session.

For additional information about this meeting, please contact Rep. Vitali’s office at 610-789-3900.