November 4, 2014

WVU Extension Service Program Thursday in Wheeling

Shale Mineral Management: Understanding Your Royalties

Thursday, November 6 - 6:00 p.m., Wheeling Island Casino, Wheeling, WV

Workshop Topics include: Shale Overview: Trends and Production; Unraveling the Mystery of Royalty Payment Stubs, Appalachian Basin Royalty Calculations & Decline Curves; and Royalties & Legal Issues

Sponsored by the Penn State Cooperative Extension Service and the WVU Extension Service

For more information click here.

Seating is limited.  Click here to register. You may also register by phone by calling 1-570-320-4429 or via email to cal24@psu.edu.

Educational/Community Meeting on Oil & Gas Drilling, November 11 at Jackson's Mill

Please see the following press release from meeting organizers confirming speakers and other details.

Area Group Calls Forum on Fracking and Pipeline Issues
November 11, 2014, 6-8 p.m., Jackson's Mill Assembly Hall

A multi-county citizen group from the North Central West Virginia area has formed to educate area residents about the challenges associated with hydraulic fracturing and pipeline issues. Landowners and other concerned citizens from Lewis, Upshur, Gilmer, Doddridge, Harrison and Wetzel counties and beyond are expected to attend.

The meeting will feature a panel of expert speakers and individuals whose quality of life and health have been directly affected. Several WV organizations will be represented, including WV Surface Owners' Rights Organization (WV-SORO), Wetzel County Solid Waste Authority, the WV Host Farms Program, and Doddridge County Watershed Association.

There will be multiple opportunities to ask questions during and after the meeting.

Barbara Volk, a Lewis County landowner and co-organizer of the event explained, “It is important for citizens to know the many challenges associated with the entire process. A couple of months ago, Consol Energy held a forum at Jackson’s Mill, but did not conduct the meeting in a way that allowed for an exchange of information and views. People in attendance felt as if their voices were not being heard. So, we are holding a more democratic forum with expert presenters so that residents can learn about the issues associated with these activities.”

The main presenter will be Bill Hughes of Wetzel County. Hughes is a 36-year resident of Wetzel County. He is a retired electrical contractor who owns 79 acres near New Martinsville, and has worked for Dominion and Consolidated Aluminum.  He has been a member of the board for the Wetzel County Solid Waste Authority for the last 13 years, and been the chairman of that body for the last four.

The presentation by Hughes will focus on the production stages of hydraulic fracturing, including topics of production, waste, contamination, pipelines, and many others.

Jody Mohr, a resident of Salem, WV, will present on water contamination and lifestyle change living near a fracking site. Julie Archer of WV-SORO, will be presenting on landowners' rights, eminent domain, and leasing information. Diane Pitcock will also discuss the WV Host Farms Program, what it does, and the many benefits for its members.

Attendance is free and open to the public.

Updated Information on Pipelines & Eminent Domain

Another reminder that we have posted new and updated materials on pipelines on our website, in response to the various pipelines that are proposed.   After the updated information was originally posted, we heard of that landowners were receiving letters citing W.Va. Code Section 54-1-3 on eminent domain and claiming that section of code allows surveyors, etc. to come on to people’s land before an eminent domain/condemnation proceeding has been started or finished. In response we updated the information on our site regarding eminent domain and pipelines. You can access this information here -- and the rest of our pipeline resources here..

If you would like a hard copy of any of these resources, please reply to this email with your request and feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.