We had the largest voter turnout in recent memory, and the votes have been tallied. The results of our annual election for officers and Board Members are:

Mary Ann Gross - President
Pat Burkhart - Vice President
Bill Gould - Secretary
Steve McGuire - Treasurer
Directors at Large : Ray Follador, Barbara Hamel, and Erica Love

Our deepest thanks for volunteering your time and energy to benefit the geologic community in Pittsburgh.

On May 12th, Pennsylvania amended the Engineer, Land Surveyor and Geologists Registration Law to clarify the requirements for mandatory continuing education (CE) for Professional Geologists in Pennsylvania. Each PG is required to obtain 24 CE credits in each 2 year term. The PGS Board feels that the professional presentations at our PGS meetings will qualify as professional development time and aid in fullfilling the Continuing Education requirements. We have formed a committee to pursue making CE credits available to our membership for future meetings.

Pennsylvania has become the focus of interest because of the natural gas found in the Marcellus Shale. To learn more about this newly appreciated resource, follow the link to the Pennsylvania DCNR site: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/oilandgas/marcellus.aspx .
If you have other links that can be listed on our website, just email marykmcguire@comcast.net

The PGS has joined Facebook so click on our button to become a fan. You will be asked to join facebook if you are not already registered.

A Stray Gas Workshop was held on November 4-6, 2009 here in Pittsburgh sponsored by the U.S. Geological Survey Pennsylvania Water Science Center in cooperation with the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement, U.S. Department of the Interior, PA Department of Environmental Protection and the Pittsburgh Geological Society. This workshop focused on the scientific basis for the assessment and analysis of stray or fugitive gases such as methane (the primary component of natural gas) or carbon dioxide.

Tools and strategies for investigating stray gases, along with case studies, were presented by scientists and specialists whose work has focused on the origins, migration, and accumulation of gases. The workshop presentations had emphasis on carbon dioxide and methane; the implications for safety, mitigation, and management of subsurface resources also were addressed. You are invited to view the presentations from the workshop on the USGS website under the "Workshop Presentations" tab .

See our Job Opportunities page for recent job announcements from national firms, local firms and recruiters. These companies are looking for inexperienced and experienced people in the fields of oil & gas exploration, environmental, regulatory compliance, academic positions, etc.

We're always receiving job notices so be sure to return to this page on a regular basis.

For anyone needing geological information regarding natural hazards such as landslides, radon, sinkholes, flooding, methane and carbon dioxide leakage from coal mines, or mine subsidence, the Pennsylvania Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources has a website for geologic hazards http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/topogeo/hazards/index.aspx . Their more general website is http://www.dcnr. state.pa.us/topogeo/ . We've covered some of these same hazards on our hazards page .

Due to a very wet winter last year, the region has experienced a significant increase in landslides. As a Society, PGS has some understanding about why landslides occur and how to prevent them (see section called "Geohazards"). Although PGS is actively working toward permanent solutions to the landsliding problems in western Pennsylvania, we are not able to intervene in your current crisis. Should you need professional geological assistance,click here for a list of consultants who may be able to help.

To see proposed legislation regarding landslide insurance and other issues, see House Bill # 215 .

In light of the current courtroom battle over the teaching of 'intelligent design' as an alternative to evolution in the high school biology classes in Dover, York County, Pa., the PGS has posted its own position regarding the teaching of evolution in the classroom. Other geological societies are also making their opinions known. We invite you to read about the positions of the Pennsylvania Council of Professional Geologists , American Geological Institute , American Geophysical Union , and the Geological Society of America .