The information about natural gas drilling keeps flowing into the Southern Tier.

Cornell Cooperative Extension hosted a Marcellus Shale summit at the Owego Treadway Inn.

And as Action News Reporter Julianne Sweeney tells us, it was a chance for landowners and government leaders to do more homework.

Everyone from people looking to lease land to people concerned about environmental impacts showed up at this Cornell Cooperative Extension summit about drilling into the Marcellus Shale.

"Folks who would like to actually not see this happen at all and folks who are very anxious to see it happen." said Rod Howe of Cornell Cooperative Extension.

There's currently a hold on drilling into the Marcellus Shale in New York State.

But, the Department of Conservation is debating whether to lift the ban.

Landowners here say they want to be prepared if they do decide to sign a lease with a natural gas company.

"A little bit more to find out what my legal rights truly are." said Bruce Murray of Brooktondale.

Local municipalities are also considering leasing over land to companies.

Some are hoping to handle environmental issues in a joint approach.

The Town of Vestal says it's in discussion with other municipalities and Broome County to regulate as one government.

"Whether it's water, whether it's noise, whether it's air, whether it's roads." said Vestal Town Supervisor Peter Andreasen.

Drilling in Pennsylvania is already underway.

Cornell Cooperative says it does not know what the future holds for drilling in New York, but can use Pennsylvania as model.

"I don't know what to anticipate here in New York State, certainly people are paying attention to what's happening south of the border." said Howe.

The DEC is accepting public comment until the end of the year before it decides to allow drilling into the Marcellus Shale.

Earlier this month, 15 families in Dimock, Pennsylvania filed a civil lawsuit against Houston-based Cabot Oil and Gas Corporation.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection says Cabot is responsible for a handful of spills over the last few months.