Pennsylvania governor opposes forced pooling- Wall Street Journal
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett tells a crowd from the booming natural gas industry that the state needs its help to climb out of the recession. However, he also says that he will aggressively enforce environmental laws and that he opposes “forced pooling,” which he says is tantamount to private eminent domain.  Click link to read article.  http://online.wsj.com/article/AP6047e173550e405ebcf96b930b5c0cda.html

Forced Pooling: When Landowners Can’t Say No to Drilling- ProPublica

As the shale gas boom sweeps across the United States, drillers are turning to a controversial legal tool called forced pooling to gain access to minerals beneath private property–in many cases, without the landowners’ permission.  Click link to read article.  http://www.propublica.org/article/forced-pooling-when-landowners-cant-say-no-to-drilling

Upcoming Land Stewards of NY Event

If you are concerned about how gas drilling will affect YOUR property rights and OUR communities,

COME LEARN THE FACTS!

When:       Wednesday, June 1, 7:00 PM

Where:     Fabius Community Center & Grange

Rt. 80, in the heart of downtown Fabius

Program Speakers:

• Kenneth Holden, Attorney, Hancock Estabrook Law Firm

“The New York State Compulsory Integration Law and Private Property”

• Mark Burger, Executive Director, Onondaga Co. Soil & Water   Conservation District

“Tour of Natural Gas Production: Bradford Co., PA”

• William Kappel, Ph.D., Hydrogeologist, U.S. Geological Survey

“Water Resources and Natural Gas Production in the Marcellus Shale”

(Questions and answers to follow speakers)

Press event

Land Stewards of NY member/spokesperson and former NYS Senator, Nancy Larraine Hoffmann, was a guest on The Capitol Press Room with Susan Arbetter on Thursday, April 28th.  It is archived as a podcast on the Capital Press Room website (click on the link to listen).  Nancy Larraine and Susan  discussed compulsory integration, hydrofracking and how the DEC and NYS legislature are handling this important issue.

COME VISIT WITH LAND STEWARDS OF NY AT THE FARM SHOW!    WE’LL LOOK FOR YOU FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, 8:30 TO 4,  IN THE TOYOTA BUILDING, NEXT TO THE BEEF PRODUCERS, UNDER THE BANNER WHICH SAYS ” WE FEED THE WORLD.”

We are having lots of positive discussions with people who just didn’t realize that their land could be absorbed into a gas company’s “Spacing Unit” without their consent, and with some who have already had that very thing happen to them.

One gentleman from Chenango County explained the difficult time he had fighting against the compulsory integrations order,  but was glad that he had done so and glad that he hired a lawyer to represent him. “I couldn’t believe it when I got this official-looking letter telling me that my land was part of their deal, and I would be getting something like 6% of the profits off the well.  After  my lawyer fought with them, I got three times that.”  The same gentleman also told of a woman “who never had $3,000 to her name her whole life and the gas company came and put 50,000 on the table and she just signed over everything.”

Several locally-elected farmers stopped by and asked for copies of the Land Stewards’ Resolution to pass in their town.  We will  post it online so everyone can use it.

Gas Leasing Workshop Is A ‘Must Attend’  

The gas leasing workshop begins at 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 25th, in the Arts and Home Center’s Bistro Room at the state fairgrounds in Syracuse. The speakers will allow plenty of time for questions and answers.

Cornell to host a “What you must know about gas leasing” session.

Cornell Cooperative Extension will host a Marcellus Gas Leasing Workshop on Friday, Feb. 25 at New York Farm Show. This special workshop to address key landowner and environmental issues involved in the Marcellus “natural gas rush”. With bids now surpassing $5,500 an acre plus 20% royalties, natural gas drilling has become a high-stakes “game”.

• What’s happening now will be addressed by Brett Chedzoy, Schuyler County Extension resource educator.
• Key gas leasing contract issues will be covered by James Leonard, certified public accountant and leasing consultant from Endicott, N.Y.
• Financial and tax ramifications will be covered by Joe Bennett, Cornell Cooperative Extension’s CPA.
• The Crucial importance of financial planning will be addressed by Bennett and Leonard.

Closing out the forum will be Beef Producer and former New York State Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Nancy Larraine Hoffmann who will briefly discuss   LAND STEWARDS OF NY.(www.landstewardsofny.org) The newly-formed group of landowners is seeking a repeal of the New York’s eminent domain law, “Compulsory Integration;” and  calling for enactment of a Landowners’ Bill of Rights to protect farmers from misinformation or deceptive leasing practices; and establishment of a fund for damage remediation for farms and municipalities affected by activities related to gas-drilling.

Check out the Farm Show website for more details and a complete listing of events:  www.newyorkfarmshow.com