The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection organized a public meeting Wednesday night. 

Officials said they were contacted by state Sen. Joe Scarnati about concerns in a Jefferson County watershed. 

In an effort to answer questions and hear concerns, DEP representatives traveled from Harrisburg to Brockway on Wednesday night. 

"Tonight's purpose is for individuals that rely on the watershed and reservoir to hear what (Flatirons Resources) have to say, to ask questions and to get answers," Scarnati told attendees of the meeting. 

Flatirons Resources LLC is an independent oil and gas company based in Denver. 

Larry Moore, of Flatirons, said that the company has completed wells in 11 states. Moore said it began Marcellus Shale drilling in 2009. 

In 2011, it drilled and fracked Well No.6  in the Brockway Watershed, specifically the Rattlesnake and Wetstone Watershed. While drilling in the Watershed, officials said a water aquifer was disturbed. 

Robert Ging, the Brockway Municipal Authority's environmental attorney, said that this aquifer is what helps supply water to thousands of residents in the area. 

After that incident, residents started raising questions about the effects drilling is having on their water supply. This is why the DEP scheduled Wednesday's meeting. 

A representative from the DEP told the audience of more than 150 people that there is one pending permit application to drill in the Watershed, which is also on the Municipal Authority's property. 

The company seeking the permit is Flatirons Resources LLC. 

Several employees of the company presented a PowerPoint presentation Wednesday informing neighbors about their company and how they drill and frack. At one point, they showed a five-minute video that showed the drilling process. 

One representative from the DEP told the crowd, "I think (tonight's meeting) is a big step for the Department working with the community." 

Kelly Burch, the northwest regional director for the DEP, said that the oil and gas industry has expanded a number of things at the DEP. 

Burch said that the oil and gas industry has doubled the number of people in the northwest region. It also has doubled the number of inspectors and watershed specialists, he said. 

"I've seen firsthand what the concerns are," Burch said. 

Like the other DEP officials, state representatives and Flatirons Resources, Burch heard comments from several concerned neighbors. 

Many of them questioned why another well needs to be drilled in the Watershed.  

The Brockway Area Water Alliance also spoke on behalf of how it feels any more drilling could potentially have negative effects to its water supply.

 P.J. Piccirillo, a member of the Water  Alliance, expressed frustration in the lack of help he has seen from state officials. He particularly called out state Rep. Sam Smith. 

Other neighbors expressed concerns about Bill 1950, which was just signed into law last week. One neighbor questioned why this bill allows more drilling in the Watershed, even though it is 1,000 feet from the water supply. 

Others asked if there have been any plans implemented after recent earthquakes out west. 

DEP officials reassured neighbors that they have not determined whether they will issue the permit to Flatirons. Officials said they will take into consideration what people had to say when making their decision. 

DEP officials said the decision would not come until after March 14. 

Burch noted that in April, the DEP will also be reassessing the Watershed. 

"People are very serious about protecting the quality of the water," a representative of the DEP said." he also said, "Diminishing or polluting water supplies is not permitted."