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Permalink Reply by 29041431 on January 28, 2013 at 4:39am

A DRAFT OF THE 2013 "LEASE INTEGRATION" (FORCED POOLING) LEGISLATION HAS BEEN MAKING ITS WAY AROUND THE STATE CAPITOL AND ELSEWHERE FOR THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS. SPONSORED BY EQT, IT CONTAINS SOME VERY BROAD LANGUAGE PERTAINING TO HOW THE GAS COMPANIES ARE ABLE TO "FORCE POOL" MINERAL OWNERS. ALTHOUGH THEY SAY THEY'RE TARGETING SMALL INTEREST, NON-COMPLIANT OR "MISSING" OWNERS, THIS BROAD INTERPRETATION ALLOWS THEM GREAT LATITUDE IN HOW THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO ASSEMBLE ACREAGE. A COPY OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION SHOULD BE AVAILABLE SOON IN ADVANCE OF THE 2013 LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT RESUMES ON FEBRUARY 13. NO FORCED POOLING!!! BE VIGILANT!!!

Permalink Reply by D L T on February 17, 2013 at 11:59am

I have been looking at info on this topic.  We are 4 who are still trying to get a lease with some language changes.  (7 other relatives signed lease).  There are 3 or 4 missing heirs also.  We are not against signing a lease but all of the lies and short talk has got us nowhere close.  We want some language changed or deleted to protect us.  Everyone else apparently wanted to take the money and run.  What's the latest on the bills if any, pertaining to forced pooling in Wv? 

Permalink Reply by 29041431 on February 18, 2013 at 5:25am

 This story appeared on the front page of the Dominion Post (Morgantown) this morning. WVROA has laid it all out there for everyone to see. The gas industry is screwing over the royalty owners, not only in West Virginia, but in Pennsylvania and Ohio too. Go to WVROA's website for more information. There has been no Lease Integration bill filed yet, but it's coming! NO FORCED POOLING! BE READY!

http://www.individual.com/storyrss.php?story=171165866&hash=ba6...

 

P.S. TO D L T: Have an attorney review your lease. Where is your property located? This usually is the most common form of tying up property in dormant areas, signing up at least one party and leaving the rest to take it or leave it. In order to get what you want and depending upon how bad they need the property, you may have to hunker down for the long haul. Missing heirs is hardly ever a good thing.

Permalink Reply by Dan on February 19, 2013 at 4:38am

From the Dominion story ,

                             "Ohio is just next door, allows pooling and is working on lowering its severance tax rate."

Our Ohio Gov. is trying to raise the severance tax rate up 4 more %, not lower it.  Sounds like a scare tactic.