Committee Approves White’s Coal Bed Methane Dispute Bill

Senate Bill 275 would establish panel to resolve objections

The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee today (March 17) approved legislation introduced by Senator Don White (R-41) to establish a special review board to arbitrate coal bed methane well disputes.

Specifically, Senate Bill 275 calls for the creation of a three-member Coal Bed Methane Review Board to consider objections and attempt to reach an agreement on issues such as the location of coal bed methane wells and/or access roads. Currently, disputes between surface land owners and the holders of mineral rights for those properties are often resolved in county courts of common pleas.

"I am pleased that the Committee expeditiously reported out Senate Bill 275," Senator White continued. "This bill will not change the respective rights and obligations of either party, but rather create a timely, less expensive process that will help clear up these disputes without going to court."

The proposed Coal Bed Methane Review Board would be made up of a member appointed by the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, a member appointed jointly by the Pennsylvania Oil and Gas Association, the Independent Oil and Gas Association and the Pennsylvania Coal Association, and a member appointed jointly by the deans of the College of Agricultural Sciences and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences of Penn State University.

State Representative Dave Reed (R-62) has introduced a companion bill (House Bill 539) in the House of Representatives.

Contact:

Joe Pittman
(724) 357-0151, cell (724) 541-0552