Legislators Reintroduce Coal Bed Methane Dispute Bills

White, Reed measures would establish panel to resolve objections

Senator Don White (R-41) and Representative Dave Reed (R-62) are reintroducing legislation to establish a special review board to arbitrate coal bed methane well disputes. Currently, disputes between surface landowners and the holders of mineral rights for those properties are often resolved in county courts of common pleas.

Specifically, Senate Bill 275 (White) and House Bill 539 (Reed) call for the creation of a three-member Coal Bed Methane Review Board to consider objections and attempt to reach an agreement on issues such as the location of coal bed methane wells and/or access roads.

"Under a 1983 Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling, coal bed methane is considered part of the property rights transferred under coal agreements. Now, some landowners who previously entered into coal agreements are being confronted with mineral estate development on their property," Senator White continued. "Our bills are not intended to change the respective rights and obligations of either party, but rather to create a timely, less expensive process."

"Currently, disputes about property rights versus mineral rights must be settled in court, which is a lengthy, expensive and often acrimonious process for all parties involved," Representative Reed said. "The legislation we are reintroducing would establish a special panel with specific expertise in resolving those disputes, which could streamline the process."

The proposed Coal Bed Methane Review Board would be made up of a member appointed by the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, a member appointed jointly by the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association, the Independent Oil and Gas Association and the Pennsylvania Coal Association, and a member appointed jointly by the deans of the College of Agricultural Sciences and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences of Penn State University.

Contact:

Joe Pittman
(724) 357-0151, cell (724) 541-0552