Brief Summaries of Challenges Facing Leased Landholders in New York State
Force Majeure and Lease Termination:
Video of Gas Lease Workshop, Auburn, May 2011
Video of A Gas Lease Workshop for Current, Potential, and Expiring Leases, Sidney, March 2012 – Click here to find video of a workshop co-sponsored by Fleased
Force Majeure Long Answer - An explanation of the reasons why claims by the gas company of force majeure may be invalid.
Force Majeure Template Letter - A sample response to gas company letter claiming lease extension under force majeure.
Lease Termination Packet - Packet of information and template letter regarding termination procedures for gas leases that are ending.
Real Estate Issues:
Gas and Oil Leases as they relate to Residential Lending - A discussion of the impact of gas and/or oil leases on residential mortgage lending, prepared by the Tompkins County Council Of Governments (TCCOG) Task Force on Gas Drilling Assessment and Land Valuation Subcommittee.
Homeowners and Leases: Boon or Bust? - Article by Elisabeth Radow, published in the New York State Bar Association Journal (Nov/Dec 2011 issue)
Lawsuits:
Class Action / Mass Action - Brief description of what Class Action and Mass Action lawsuits are
Fraud Case in PA - Federal judge lets fraud claim proceed in PA
Tioga County landholders’ suit – News article about a landholders’ suit challenging gas companies’ practice of extending leases through “force majeure” claims
Comments on the draft SGEIS:
Draft SGEIS – Link to the draft Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement on the website of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Fleased SGEIS comments - Click here to read Fleased’s comments on the SGEIS. The public comment period closed on January 11, 2012.
Media Coverage of Gas Leases:
Signing Drilling Leases, and Now Having Regrets – Article by Mireya Navarro, published in The New York Times, 9/22/11
Drilling Down: Learning Too Late of the Perils in Gas Well Leases – Article by Ian Urbina and Jo Craven McGinty, published in The New York Times, 12/1/11
Gas leasing in Western Maryland spurs calls for reform – Article by Timothy B. Wheeler, published in The Baltimore Sun, 12/31/11
Additional resources:
Drilling Doublespeak: Gas Drillers Disclose Risks to Shareholders – But Not to Landowners - Report published by the Environmental Working Group in December 2011
Gas Drilling & Compulsory Integration: What Are Your Rights? – Click here to find video and handouts from an information session about compulsory integration, held on November 14th, 2011 at the Dryden Fire Hall, Dryden, NY
