Being Proactive Works In PA

After receiving a letter from a state senator, the Attorney General of PA is reviewing whether that office has jurisdiction to investigate complaints from landowners about the costs deducted from their royalty checks.

The letter from the state senator was prompted by his office being"inundated" with complaints from landowners.

This site is great for information but if you want action you must be the source. Write/call your local and state officials with your concerns and questions. I am amazed how many people are afraid to do this; and for those who finally do their surprise at the response they received. Especially with regard to the ODNR; I can't tell you how many times I have called the ODNR offices and had questions answered within a short period of time. Those offices are staffed by dedicated professionals willing to help.

So just as those folks in PA took action I urge all landowners to do the same.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Trapper on February 16, 2014 at 3:29pm

Mark, out of curiosity , did the state senator offer names of offending companies?

May be good heads up info for those yet unleased.

Permalink Reply by Mark McGrail on February 16, 2014 at 6:40pm

Trapper,

One company was mentioned but I didn't use the name because it wasn't my point to villify the company. I only wanted people to know that they have the power if they will use it.

There is also a class action suit that has been filed for the same reason. Again, people taking action.

As for those who are unleased, let this be a warning, make sure you have a good royalty clause in your lease that does not allow any deductions. You will need a good oil and gas attorney. Yes that will cost money but look at what is happening to these people. As they say an ounce of prevention...

Permalink Reply by Trapper on February 16, 2014 at 6:49pm

Sound advice

Permalink Reply by Trapper on February 17, 2014 at 4:19pm

I know Jim.

Today's New Castle News has front page story naming Chesapeake as being investigated for defrauding landowners in PA. They give a couple examples and it's horrendous what Chessie is doing. Now the Governor is getting into the fray. Hopefully when the smoke clears , royalty owners will be squared away once and for all and CK left stinging so severely that other oil cos. will think twice before trying to mimic their unscrupulous behavior! Stupid on CK's part , just plain GREED and STUPIDITY!

 

Permalink Reply by lamar r king on February 17, 2014 at 7:02pm

imagine what would happen to Chesapeake if our att. general and state supreme court say it is ok to sue chessy for PAST MONETARY DAMAGES![ROYALTY THEY TOOK THAT IS RIGHTFULLY OURS].

Permalink Reply by Trapper on February 17, 2014 at 7:34pm
They would get what they deserve! For far too long they have been accused of shady practices. Maybe it's finally time for them to come to justice. Many here on GMS have complained about them for a couple years now. I just pray it isn't election year lip service.
Permalink Reply by Joe on February 17, 2014 at 12:44pm

What about the gas Co selling at a reduced rate to another Co that the big players may well own substantial stock of just to pay the land owner less royalties? Paranoid? Conspiracies? Who's looking after us there?

Permalink Reply by lamar r king on February 17, 2014 at 3:55pm

that is going to be looked into also by our state attorney general[PA]

Permalink Reply by Jim Litwinowicz on February 17, 2014 at 9:01pm

Mark;  good post. People do need to be more interactive with their legislators. I attended a seminar by a major lobbyist years ago. He drew a diagram showing who had the most influence on the legislators. The people at the bottom had none, people at the top had the most. The people at the top were the ones that donated time, money, and recruited others to help on elections.

Its easy to get to know them as they want to feedback from the people in their districts.  Go to their annual picnic. Talk to them at county fairs or other public venues. Invite them to functions like church events or other functions. After three or four times, they will remember you and listen to your points of interest. The lobbyist said that you know you have influence when you bump into him/her on the street and they know your name and the name of your spouse and/or kids.

The antis know this and do this. Aggressively. We need to also do this to succeed.

Permalink Reply by SC on February 18, 2014 at 5:37am

Read in local newspaper, Washington Co. Observer-Reporter,  where  Gov. Corbett also inquired, in writing, due to the complaints from lease holders to his office.  One company is Chesep Energy as to large deductions, with noting there are royalty owners who end up owing the company money, following deductions from royalty payment. Land/Lease owners have a voice: Stand strong!!

Permalink Reply by lamar r king on February 18, 2014 at 10:41am

when good men and women do nothing against the evil,good will cease to exist.we can win this battle by encouraging others to get involved in this fight.[never give up]!

Permalink Reply by Lance Nimmo on February 18, 2014 at 12:12pm

Our legislators already sold landowners with old conventional wells out to the O&G companies. I don't see the state giving landowners inferred Pugh clauses, or anything else to our benefit. But yet they can unilaterally give the O&G companies inferred pooling on leases where it wasn't even mentioned. They are pieces of garbage. I'm sure by our stave government looking into it, they're looking about how much campaign cash they can garner in exchange for safe passage. They win, landowners lose, every time.

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