There are three things that all landowners must know about oil and gas leasing:
1. You DO NOT have to lease your land to an oil and gas company to receive royalties.
2. If you make the decision to lease your land – either as an individual or as part of a landowner coalition), be sure the lease gets reviewed by an attorney familiar with oil and gas leases.
3. If you plan to lease your land – DO YOUR HOMEWORK! Being part of a landowner coalition can help with the sharing of information, but every landowner who plans to lease their land needs to make every effort to get educated on the pros and cons of gas leasing so you can make wise decisions.
Some places to get information include:
• Websites like this one – which will be regularly updated with new information on gas leasing and natural gas exploration
• Landowner coalition websites – many of the coalition websites have numerous links to information
• Many landowner coalitions and other organizations host educational workshops and events. You should try to attend as many of these events as possible. The question and answer sessions are invaluable.
• Stay informed with local news articles and websites
• Cornell Cooperative Extension and Penn State Cooperative Extension both have excellent websites on gas leasing and natural gas exploration
• Keep an eye on the NYS DEC Mineral Resources Environmental Notice Bulletin - these can provide you with information about where drilling activity is taking place
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