Plymouth man advises neighbors to beware of natural gas offers
PLYMOUTH – Although Sean T. Campbell of Plymouth admits that he “may not be the smartest guy in the tool shed,” he said he has learned enough about the market for natural gas in the area to warn his neighbors about leasing their land to exploration companies.
“They manipulate words. They are trying to take advantage of people by not saying how deep they are going to drill, or where they are going to actually go on your property,” he said.
For that reason, Campbell plans to gather his neighbors in Plymouth, Pharsalia, Preston and Smyrna for a meeting to discuss appropriate pricing instead of accepting differing lease and royalty offers. “We will be stronger in numbers,” he said.
The landowner said a natural gas company first approached him six years ago, offering to lease his property at $3 an acre. The company later offered him $4, then $5, and finally $6 an acre. Some of his neighbors, he said, have already signed.
“My property is a a long, rectangular strip. They probably want it for the pipeline. Well, it’s still not enough,” Campbell said.
“This shale bed here is where all of the action is right now. Just look over in Pennsylvania and western New York to see how much more they have been getting. In Texas, people are getting $25,000 an acre and 25 percent royalties. The going rate in New York is 12 percent,” he said.
Campbell encourages his neighbors to call him at 316-8587 to schedule a meeting time and place.
Chenango County’s government leaders advise individual landowners to seek legal advice before signing a lease. “There’s been quite a lot of discussion privately with people who have called me. I hesitate to think that government should get involved with private landowners and telling what’s best to do with their property, but there seems to be definite advantages (to the economy in the area) with all of this activity,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard B. Decker.
Attorney Richard Breslin said he is unable to counsel private citizens. “There are established procedures in place for permitting exploration on right-of-ways on county roads,” he said, adding that there are no plans to update the procedures or bonding for potential damages despite the increased activity on county roadways.
“They manipulate words. They are trying to take advantage of people by not saying how deep they are going to drill, or where they are going to actually go on your property,” he said.
For that reason, Campbell plans to gather his neighbors in Plymouth, Pharsalia, Preston and Smyrna for a meeting to discuss appropriate pricing instead of accepting differing lease and royalty offers. “We will be stronger in numbers,” he said.
The landowner said a natural gas company first approached him six years ago, offering to lease his property at $3 an acre. The company later offered him $4, then $5, and finally $6 an acre. Some of his neighbors, he said, have already signed.
“My property is a a long, rectangular strip. They probably want it for the pipeline. Well, it’s still not enough,” Campbell said.
“This shale bed here is where all of the action is right now. Just look over in Pennsylvania and western New York to see how much more they have been getting. In Texas, people are getting $25,000 an acre and 25 percent royalties. The going rate in New York is 12 percent,” he said.
Campbell encourages his neighbors to call him at 316-8587 to schedule a meeting time and place.
Chenango County’s government leaders advise individual landowners to seek legal advice before signing a lease. “There’s been quite a lot of discussion privately with people who have called me. I hesitate to think that government should get involved with private landowners and telling what’s best to do with their property, but there seems to be definite advantages (to the economy in the area) with all of this activity,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Richard B. Decker.
Attorney Richard Breslin said he is unable to counsel private citizens. “There are established procedures in place for permitting exploration on right-of-ways on county roads,” he said, adding that there are no plans to update the procedures or bonding for potential damages despite the increased activity on county roadways.
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