...and on the eighth day God created the horse in perfect image, to romp, graze, gallop, play and make manure wherever it darn well pleases, in divine grace.

In light of ongoing issues concerning the Tires to Energy Plant and the Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling Operations, private citizens, along with land owners and horse lovers should become aware of these important topics, seen in the headlines, as they may affect your local water supplies as to availability and purity of content.

The Tires to Energy Plant proposes to build a site out in Greenwood Township, burning tires and converting them to electrical energy, which will be sold to buyers.

Water usage for this plant is coming in at an estimated 975 gallons of water per minute, if the coolant water is re-circulated through various cooling towers, thus using 1,400,000 gallons of water a day.

This is 9,800,000 gallons a week and 509,600,000 gallons of water a year.

Steam generated in two "circulating fluidized bed units" will be used to drive a turbine to produce electricity, which will be sold on the market.

No one, including the developers and the media, has mentioned whether there will be any left over "used" water that needs to be expelled.

"Research" is showing a large aquifer located underneath the Geneva Marsh, with "researchers" stating there is no chance of the aquifer going dry.

The Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling Operations continue to make headlines, also.

New technology allows horizontal drilling, thus locating the natural gas locked in the Marcellus Shale, some 8,000 feet down.

The "fracking" process drills down thousands of feet, pumping chemicals and water into the rock, trapping and freeing the natural gas.

The story of "Paradise Lost" tells of a family out in eastern Pa. who have summer house where they liked to go to enjoy the view and the greenery.

Due to Marcellus Shale gas drilling, the greenery has turned a dull brown, as everything is dead.

The well water is contaminated and cows who drank the water are now on a two year moratorium, put on a feed lot and are not allowed to be milked nor slaughtered for consumption, until the effects of the toxic water are known.

The KDKA website out of Pittsburgh has information about tap water in that area being lit on fire as it comes out of the spigot.

Even if you as a land owner do not want drilling on your place, your neighbor may opt to drill.

The poor economy makes development of these industries easy, as people are desperate for money.

The horizontal gas drilling practices can go under your property, risking your well water supply to contamination and poisons.

Townships have been severely limited by the state in what they can do to protect themselves, and the state is making it easy for gas drilling companies to drill.

Pymatuning Lake is a large, natural resource that helps the local economy with fishing and boating, hiking, restaurants and camping.

Area Supervisor Boards are expressing concern over this natural resource possibly becoming contaminated due to the Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling operations.

They are strongly urging all citizens to have their private water wells tested.

Call the North and South Shenango Joint Municipal Authority for information on water testing.

PSATS, or Pa. State Association of Township Supervisors has a website with information and a video on Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling.

Click www.psats.org. Then go half way down the page and click : "Marcellus Shale –Clarity of Water." Then click Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling, How could it affect your local water supply?"

Watch the 90 minute video, as it contains a lot of information not reported in the media.

Everyone, including land owners and horsemen alike, should become very aware of their local water supplies and possible contamination of wells, due to development by large companies that use tremendous amounts of fresh, free water.

Supervisor Jeff Daniels, of North Shenango Township, is offering the public a chance to view a video and it is available for usage from the township building, by appointment.

Atlas Energy Co. is currently being sued by a farmer for clear cutting his trees and draining his wells.

He had his land tested and the results show large amounts of arsenic, PCP and benzene.

Known as "total dissolved solids," these are being left behind at drill sites.

Land owners should be very wary of signing contracts, as a lot of rights can be signed away, including mineral rights and the right to sue should property damage occur.

Land owners are encouraged to get their wells tested right now, immediately, and keep the (positive) results with other important documents.

The next few years are going to see a lot of major changes to your local area landscapes and water supplies.

The Appalachian Geophysical Survey Co. is currently testing for gas at sites in Conneaut Township

Attending your local Township Supervisor Board meetings can help you to stay informed on these very important issues.