Updates and Alerts - WV Surface Owners' Rights Organization

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“Co-Tenancy” Advances to the Senate Floor Unchanged
Updates and Alerts WVSORO March 1, 2018
Since we wrote to you last week, the “co-tenancy” bill (HB 4268), has passed two committees unchanged and is now on the Senate floor. In other news, the Senate unanimously passed SB 360, which would change the way royalties are calculated for flat-rate leases. Unfortunately, most of the bills that were a priority for WV-SORO this legislative session are dead because they were not taken up by their assigned committees and sent to the floor in time to meet yesterday’s deadline (often referred to as Crossover Day) for bills to be out of the house of origin. More
Issues: Eminent domain, Fence-line monitoring, Horizontal wells, Land re-union, Minerals-Royalties, Noise, Pooling

“Co-Tenancy” Bill Passes House of Delegates
Updates and Alerts WVSORO February 19, 2018
On Thursday, the House of Delegates passes a the “co-tenancy” bill (HB 4268), with 60 votes for, and 40 votes against. As the bill came to the floor from the House Judiciary Committee it contained important protections for surface owners, requiring their consent for any surface disturbance whenever the co-tenancy law is used to develop the mineral tract beneath a surface owners’ land or into any neighboring mineral tract, regardless of whether the surface owner owns an interest in the mineral tract being developed. This is significant. The bill also contained protections for the non-consenting, and missing and unknown mineral owners that were not included in the introduced bill. On the floor, two other amendments were adopted that provide additional protections for these mineral owners. HB 4268 is now in the Senate where it has been assigned to the Energy, Industry, and Mining Committee, and the Judiciary Committee. More
Issues: Eminent domain, Fracking, Horizontal wells, Land re-union, Orphaned wells, Pipelines, Pollution, Pooling, Reclamation fund

Improved “Co-Tenancy” Bill Clears House Judiciary Committee
Updates and Alerts WVSORO February 10, 2018
After yesterday's public hearing on the "co-tenancy" bill (HB 4268), the House Judiciary Committee took up and passed an improved version of the bill that, most importantly, addresses the problems we raised regarding surface use and the need to require surface owner's consent. If version of HB 4268 that came out of the House Judiciary Committee passes, if the driller uses the statute to get the right to drill into the mineral tract beneath a surface owners' land or into any neighboring mineral tract, the driller will have to get the agreement of the surface owner to locate the well pad on their surface. Requiring the surface owners consent is very important, and a significant improvement that makes it worth supporting the bill. Why? Read more here. More
Issues: Horizontal wells, Land re-union, Leasing, Minerals-Royalties, Orphaned wells, Pooling

Public Hearing on “Co-Tenancy” Friday, Feb. 9 at 8:30AM
Updates and Alerts WVSORO February 6, 2018
The House Judiciary Committee will hold a public hearing on the "co-tenancy" bill (HB 4268) Friday, February 9 at 8:30AM in the House Chamber. Read this post for more details and talking points about the bill. More
Issues: Horizontal wells, Minerals-Royalties, Pooling

“Co-Tenancy” Bill Advances Without Changes, Public Hearing Possible Wednesday
Updates and Alerts WVSORO February 4, 2018
Last week the House Energy Committee passed the "co-tenancy" bill (HB 4268) without any changes. HB 4268 is problematic in a number of ways which we've outlined in detail here, and we remain opposed to the bill unless these issues are addressed. The bill is now before the House Judiciary Committee. A public hearing has been requested and will possibly be held this Wednesday, February 7 although there has been no official announcement yet. In the meantime, please contact House Judiciary Committee members and voice your concerns about HB 4268. More
Issues: Eminent domain, Fence-line monitoring, Pipelines, Pollution, Pooling

“Co-Tenancy” Bill Being Considered by House Energy Committee
Updates and Alerts WVSORO January 27, 2018
A "co-tenancy" bill (HB 4268) is now being considered by the House Energy Committee. HB 4268 is problematic in a number of ways which we've outlined here. Please contact members of the House Energy Committee and voice your concerns about HB 4268. Urge them to prioritize other legislation before them that will help those most affect by drilling and natural gas infrastructure. More
Issues: Eminent domain, Fence-line monitoring, Horizontal wells, Pipelines, Pooling

Legislative Update and Thank YOU; Fracking Guide and Webinar
Updates and Alerts Julie Archer April 8, 2017
Today is the last day of the 2017 legislative session. You've probably heard that the industry's re-branded forced pooling legislation (SB 576) was officially declared dead earlier in the week by the chair of the House Energy Committee. More
Issues: Fracking, Land re-union, Pooling

Public Hearing Monday on Forced Pooling Bill
Updates and Alerts Julie Archer April 1, 2017
The House Energy Committee will hold a public hearing on the forced pooling bill (SB 576) Monday, April 3 from 9AM to 10AM in the House Chamber. Read this post for more details and talking points about the bill. More
Issues: Leasing, Minerals-Royalties, Pooling

Forced Pooling, Land Reunion Bills Advancing
Updates and Alerts Julie Archer March 26, 2017
WV-SORO continues to oppose the latest version of the forced pooling legislation (SB 576), although we appreciate efforts to improve it. Our concerns are outlined here. We're glad to report our 'land reunion' bill (SB 369) is moving and we're hopeful it will be passed by the Senate later this week. More
Issues: Land re-union, Land use, Minerals-Royalties, Pooling

Forced Pooling Bill Taken Up by Senate Committee
Updates and Alerts Julie Archer March 20, 2017
Hopefully folks recognized the typo in the earlier version of this update for what it was. Tell your legislators NOT to pass laws that help the industry at the expense of West Virginia landowners. Thank you for taking action! More

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