HB4639: Worse bills yet against mineral and property owners (call now to defeat!).

These are the worse bills yet against mineral and property owners.  Need to contact your state representatives now to oppose HB4639 and SB646 as they are on first reading today and third reading this Wed.

These bills:

  • allow 49% of leaseholders to be forced pooled with NO compensation
  • Take away ability of land & mineral owners to sue for damages
  • Force mineral owners to sue leaseholders for any payments for their minerals
  • Eliminate ability to negotiate depth of drilling or target formations in leases
  • Eliminate any surface protections for landowners
  • Allow deductions to be taken from royalty payments

Need to call now as they will be voitng Wed. Feb.24.

Jacklin Romeo

NARO-Appalachia Legislative Committee

Who/How to Contact

  1. WOODY IRELAND – R – RITCHIE – (304) 340-3195

          woody.ireland@wvhouse.gov

  1. TOM FAST – R – FAYETTE - (304) 340-3170

          tom.fast@wvhouse.gov

  1. BILL ANDERSON – R – WOOD -(304) 340-3168

          bill.anderson@wvhouse.gov

  1. MARK ZATEZALO – R – HANCOCK - (304) 340-3120

          mark.zatezalo.wvhouse.gov

  1. RANDY SMITH – R –PRESTON - (304) 340-3396

          randy.smith@wvhouse.gov

  1. SCOTT CADLE – R – MASON - (304) 340-3118

          scott.cadle@wvhouse.gov

  1. JOHN MCCLUSKEY – R – KANAWHA - (304) 340-3183

          johnmccluskey@wvhouse.gov

For a complete list of House Members, go to:  http://www.legis.state.wv.us/House/roster.cfm

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Becky on February 25, 2016 at 4:19am

I got about half way through the list and then started getting undeliverable messages under the legislatures spam policy?????  Making direct calls now.

Permalink Reply by Nancy Mosley on February 25, 2016 at 4:39am

I only got two so far as undeliverable, and an automatic reply where he wants my mailing address and zip code. I live out of state and am not sure how much attention he would pay to my opinion. The rest seem to have gone through.

Permalink Reply by 29041431 on February 25, 2016 at 4:52am

Thank you so much!

Permalink Reply by Ryan M on February 25, 2016 at 9:32am

I don't agree with the terms of the legislation, however if done correctly, forced pooling is mutually beneficial to mineral owners and operators.  Forced pooling standards in the state of Oklahoma should be the standard everywhere.  Oklahoma has a great deal of historical production, similar to WV and it allows development to move forward in the event that the operator is unable to locate unleased mineral owners or gives individuals the opportunity to participate in the drilling of the well with the operator.  I am confident in my position as a mineral owner in Oklahoma and in OH/PA/WV.  The idea that my minerals in WV may not be fully developed because XYZ oil company can't locate the heirs of an interest severed 110 years ago terrifies me.

I am interested to hear some responses.

Permalink Reply by Jackie on February 25, 2016 at 11:37am
Ryan, I agree with you and I am in favor of the forced pooling bill that was agreed upon by all the stakeholders. The various mineral and surface owners' groups both independently and in multiple meetings with the drilling companies, over a two year period worked to develop and agree on HB 2688 for introduction during the 2015 session. It failed by one vote. Then this year it was reintroduced as HB 4426. Instead of working to get that bill through, the Legislators have chosen to work at getting some really bad bills passed. Why supporters backed out of the good bill and are now trying various ways of taking property rights unfairly, I don't know.
Perhaps, we should be calling for support of HB4426, the agreed upon pooling bill, SB 410, a bill that handles partition lawsuits in a fairer manner, and HB 4500, a Transparency or accounting bill. It is hard to work for bills, when we are on the defense.
Permalink Reply by Nancy Mosley on February 25, 2016 at 11:48am
I think there is already a provision to deal with unlocatable owners. Some people are unaware of that, and I don't know details. That leaves at least two categories, those that just don't want drilling, at least around their land, and those trying to negotiate a good lease. The companies sometimes get stubborn, and some mineral owners sometimes want to hold out for more favorable terms. Etc. The bill from last year would give the company the power to hold out until they get that 80%, then they would have an easier time with the "holdouts'.
Not a clear picture, but I agree that the way I understand the Oklahoma lae, it is pretty fair to all.
Permalink Reply by Jackie on February 25, 2016 at 12:28pm

By the way, it was the Chairman of the House Energy Committee that held the stakeholder meetings and worked so hard to get a negotiated bill.  He is the one now sponsoring the bad bills. 

Permalink Reply by Nancy Mosley on February 25, 2016 at 4:15pm
Be has announced he is not running for reelection
Permalink Reply by 29041431 on February 27, 2016 at 5:06am

HOUSE BILL 4639 - THE INDUSTRY FORCED POOLING BILL - APPEARS TO BE OUT OF COMMISSION FOR 2016 AS OF FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 26, 2016) EVENING, HOWEVER, SENATE BILL 646 (THE INDUSTRY FORCED POOLING BILL IN THE SENATE) COULD BE VOTED ON EITHER TODAY (SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2016) OR TOMORROW (SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2016), SO WE CAN'T LET UP! PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE AND LET THEM KNOW THAT YOU OPPOSE SENATE BILL 646 - THE FORCED POOLING BILL.

Senator Trump - Chair charles.trump@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7980
Senator Ferns - Vice-Chair ryan.ferns@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7918
Senator Ashley bob.ashley@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7970
Senator Beach bob.beach@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7919
Senator Carmichael Mitch.Carmichael@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7855
Senator Cline sue.cline@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7807
Senator Gaunch ed.gaunch@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7841
Senator Karnes robert.karnes@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7906
Senator Kirkendoll art.kirkendoll@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7857
Senator Leonhardt Kent.Leonhardt@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7827
Senator Maynard Mark.Maynard@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7808
Senator Miller ronald.miller@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7959
Senator Palumbo corey.palumbo@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7854
Senator Romano mike.romano@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7904
Senator Snyder herb.snyder@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7957
Senator Williams bob.williams@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7995
Senator Woelfel mike.woelfel@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7956

Permalink Reply by Jackie on February 27, 2016 at 7:33am

Thank you for the update.  I just emailed the Senate Judiciary again.  I also sent out your message to my email lists for their help.

Permalink Reply by 29041431 on February 27, 2016 at 11:42am

It was just announced that SB646 is off the agenda as of today but please stay tuned because the bill could possibly be resurrected between now and tomorrow (Sunday) night. I am emailing all of the Senate members of the Judiciary Committee again to vote NO TO FORCED POOLING as well as the manipulation of any other bill that would do the same thing. I urge you to do the same.

 

HERE ARE SENATORS ON THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. PLEASE CALL THESE SENATORS TO VOICE YOUR OPINION AGAINST FORCED POOLING!

Senator Trump - Chair charles.trump@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7980
Senator Ferns - Vice-Chair ryan.ferns@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7918
Senator Ashley bob.ashley@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7970
Senator Beach bob.beach@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7919
Senator Carmichael Mitch.Carmichael@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7855
Senator Cline sue.cline@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7807
Senator Gaunch ed.gaunch@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7841
Senator Karnes robert.karnes@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7906
Senator Kirkendoll art.kirkendoll@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7857
Senator Leonhardt Kent.Leonhardt@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7827
Senator Maynard Mark.Maynard@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7808
Senator Miller ronald.miller@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7959
Senator Palumbo corey.palumbo@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7854
Senator Romano mike.romano@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7904
Senator Snyder herb.snyder@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7957
Senator Williams bob.williams@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7995
Senator Woelfel mike.woelfel@wvsenate.gov (304) 357-7956

Permalink Reply by gasoholic on February 28, 2016 at 5:39am

SENATE BILL 646 is back on the agenda today, Sunday Feb 28th @ 3:00 PM

http://www.legis.state.wv.us/live.cfm

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