The outcome we're after is Pennsylvania mining families know that when their loved ones go into this tough, dangerous business that at least their maps are dependable.

All nine are alive, and we believe that all nine are in pretty good shape.

Doug is a leader who understands the major responsibility borne by an executive both in the business-employment sense and the civic sense. US Airways clearly sees Greater Philadelphia as a key market in its future and they want to play a role in growing our regional economy.

The region is strong and attractive in a transportation sense for a lot of reasons -- easy access by rail and easy access by a big international airport and we have provided the commensurate effort to preserve and expand both. The council, which provides a lot of oversight, is determined to be a force on all appropriate fronts.

The company owes answers to the mining families, the company owes answers to me, the company owes answers to Pennsylvania.

When you look at Atlanta and you see that 22 foreign-based companies have set up offices there since the Olympics and you see all the jobs that moved in there, you understand what's at stake. It's a heavy initial investment, to be sure. But you also are talking about possibly a $12 billion pot at the end of the rainbow if you land the games.

We are getting viewed as one of the hot locations in the world, and we've hosted these massive events like Live 8 and the Republican Convention. This is a logical step to take — to take a big step and show that we're a proud and solid community.

That drill represents their opportunity to live.

The entire region could benefit from this. Not just Pennsylvania, but there would be more people staying (at hotels in) New Jersey and Delaware. If this region acts together, it would be an incredible thing.