MORRISVILLE – Municipal leaders hope to develop “a proactive response” to natural gas development in upstate New York at a conference on Saturday to be held at the State University of New York at Morrisville.

The gathering is intended to unite the elected and appointed town and county officials whose communities are experiencing natural gas development activities or expect Marcellus Shale development in the future. The public is invited to attend.

Agenda topics include: What municipalities can do regarding natural gas development; Environmental Conservation Law Section 23-0303 – the powers it gives and the powers taken from local government and towns; the impact of the draft Supplemental GEIS on hydrofracking process for gas drilling of Marcellus Shale gas wells – what will be the regulations and when will these be implemented and how; actions municipal governments can take to address local road impacts and protect local roads; actions municipal governments can take to protect critical, sensitive areas in their municipalities; the current system of assessment of fuel production and property taxes in New York State and proposals to create a severance tax or fuel production tax, and its ramifications or opportunities for local municipalities.