(Pottsville) -- A task force is being formed soon in one midstate county to look into the possible effects natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale formation would have on the region. The Schuylkill County commissioners are in the early stages of organizing a panel of residents with various backgrounds as early as next month. Commissioner Frank Staudenmeier says it's an attempt to be proactive on an issue where public opinion in the county seems to be divided. "I think you have both sides," he says. "I think you have the folks that are obviously concerned about the environmental impacts, and then you have folks that are excited about the job opportunities." A recent Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce meeting on drilling in the Marcellus Shale attracted at least 250 people. Staudenmeier says he's not opposed to natural gas drilling, but is concerned about the way it could affect the county's infrastructure, such as damaging roads. According to the DEP, no drilling permits have been issued in the county, but two permits were issued in neighboring Columbia County as of last month.