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04/23/2024 03:54 PM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20130&cosponId=11038
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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: January 15, 2013 04:38 PM
From: Senator Gene Yaw
To: All Senate members
Subject: Pugh Clause
 
In the near future, I plan to re-introduce legislation requiring a Pugh Clause for natural gas development. This legislation was Senate Bill 722 of last session. The Pugh Clause essentially defines what happens to the portion of the acreage a person leased that does not either contain a well or is not included within a producing petroleum pool or unit.

Under current law, if a landowner has 300 acres and only 20% of it is included in a unit, the company would be able to tie up the remaining 80% by production after the primary lease expires even though there is no production on the remaining acreage. My language would release any land covered by a lease but not included in the unit.

By introducing this legislation, we are no longer allowing gas companies the option of drilling on a small portion of a landowners’ property to provide themselves additional years to utilize land. This will create a fair process for the landowners to either:
  • Re-negotiate the lease
  • Allow the company to renew the lease under previous terms
  • Lease to another company in the area

If you would like to co-sponsor this legislation, please contact Adam Pankake in my office by calling 787-3280 or by emailing apankake@pasen.gov. Thank you for your consideration.



Introduced as SB356