Natural Gas Development

Natural Gas Development on Your Farm – Sources of Information and Help

Natural gas pipline being run on farm fieldBelow are links to several articles and sources of information that can help you better understand what you should consider and address in allowing and receiving compensation for natural gas development, operation of wells and supporting infrastructure on your property.

Recent discoveries of natural gas reserves and advancements in technology in drilling and extraction of natural gas have created opportunities for many farmers and other landowners in Pennsylvania to receive significant supplemental income from natural gas development. But there are numerous legal, financial and environmental and land management considerations in allowing development of natural gas on your property that can cause serious consequences to landowners who do not adequately understand and try to tackle it themselves.

Articles and Brochures:

  • Natural Gas Exploration: A Landowner’s Guide to Leasing Land in Pennsylvania
    This article is a comprehensive overview of how natural gas is extracted, the surface or subsurface rights as a landowner, tools to negotiating a lease agreement, how the gas is stored and transported, how to find credible sources of information, and frequently asked questions about navigation through the natural gas leasing process.
  • Tax Treatment of Natural Gas
    This tax guide provides landowners leasing oil, gas, and mineral rights with information regarding income, property, severance, and estate taxes; the rights of a landowner (lessor); lease bonus payments; delay rental payments; royalty payments; resource depletion rules; and damage payments.
  • Gas Leasing Scams and Rip-Offs: Ways to Separate You from Your Property Rights and Money
    A read-before-you-sign document, this guide outlines questions landowners should ask and resources they should utilize when drafting a lease for oil, gas, or mineral rights. The guide also outlines how to identify fraudulent brokers and scams when negotiating a lease deal.
  • Natural Gas Exploration: A Landowners Guide to Financial Management
    A financial management tool for property owners, this publication covers the basics of what landowners need to know about their lease, how to manage their income from natural gas leasing, how to manage taxation, and what to consider when making financial decisions.
  • Negotiating Pipeline Rights-of-Way in Pennsylvania
    This document provides landowners with information regarding natural gas pipeline construction and rights-of-way on their land. Issues addressed include rights of condemnation or eminent domain, regulatory oversight, pipeline inspection and safety, property use restrictions, how to report taxes on pipeline easement income, and how to negotiate a right-of-way agreement.
  • Landowners Resource Guide for Pipeline Easements and Rights-of-Way
    Produced by the Chester County Pipeline Information Center, the guide is intended to serve as a resource for landowners who may have an existing or proposed pipeline right-of-way on or near their property. The resource explains what to consider during easement negotiations, what limitations there are on eased property, pipeline regulations, and frequently asked questions.
  • An Interstate Natural Gas Facility on my Land? What Do I Need to Know?
    Produced by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), this document provides landowners with an overview of the process of natural gas pipeline installation, key issues involving location of the project, the responsibilities of the gas companies, safety issues, environmental issues, and how to request additional assistance when negotiating an agreement. For further information and public inquiries, please contact: The Office of External Affairs at 1-866-208-3372 or email customer@ferc.gov

Additional Sources of Information:

  1. Penn State Law Center for Agricultural and Shale Law
    The Center for Agricultural and Shale Law conducts research and outreach activities with a focus in shale gas. This database provides a shale law library guide, current issues in shale law and updates about natural gas drilling and pipeline development projects across the commonwealth.
  2. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
    The Public Utility Commission (PUC) provides a database of natural gas companies, information on filing grievances regarding natural gas extraction and pipeline safety issues, as well as regulation of activities performed natural gas companies.

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Professional Consultation and Representation through PFB Legal Service Plan:

Landowners should seriously consider consulting with and representation by qualified professionals in obtaining agreements with gas companies that best serve and protect the landowner. PFB’s Legal Service Plan is a legal service that is available to individual PFB members to address matters that affect the member’s farm and farm businesses. The service offers experienced legal advice on all aspects of oil, gas, pipeline, and related issues, succession and business planning, estate settlement and many other legal matters encountered by farmers. Members who use this service will pay a fee for the services performed. To schedule an appointment, contact:

Mette, Evans & Woodside, Attorneys at Law
3401 North Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110-0950

Telephone Number: 1 (717) 232-5000
TOLL FREE Number: 1 (800) 962-5097

Website: www.mette.com