Hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling have been used in parts of the Midwest for years, and are now being used in Pennsylvania and New York as well. Landowners and farmers in these states have expressed concerns about the effects that drilling have on their lives and livelihoods. The New York State Senate has passed a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing that would give the state more time to study the impacts of hydraulic fracturing. The United States EPA conducted a study of the impacts of hydraulic fracturing, including its effect on drinking water. The New York State Department of Energy and Conservation is developed an environmental impact statement on hydraulic fracturing. Cornell University Cooperative Extension, Penn State, and the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service at NC State developed resources for farmers and landowners that explain concerns with gas leases and the impact of hydraulic fracturing on land, groundwater, and health. The New York State Attorney General also issued a pamphlet warning landowners about misinformation surrounding gas leases.
Learn More:
- Compulsory Pooling & Landowner Protections presentation
- Gas Rights and Right-of-Way Leasing Considerations for Farms and Woodlands from Cornell Cooperative Extension, NY. Tips and a list of issues to consider when evaluating a mineral rights lease.