Pennsylvania Surface Use Agreement

• Category: Oil Gas and Minerals - Agreements
• State: Multi-State
• Control #: US-OG-1159
• Format: Word; Rich Text

Description

This form is a surface use agreement. Pennsylvania Surface Use Agreement is a legal contract between landowners and natural gas companies that establishes the terms and conditions for the exploration and extraction of natural gas resources located beneath the surface of the land in Pennsylvania. This agreement is crucial in the state's Marcellus Shale region, which has witnessed a significant increase in shale gas development. The Pennsylvania Surface Use Agreement outlines various provisions to ensure responsible and safe extraction practices while protecting the rights and interests of both parties involved. Important keywords associated with this agreement include: 1. Surface rights: The agreement defines the rights granted to the gas company to access and use the land surface for drilling activities, constructing well pads, access roads, and pipelines. 2. Compensation: Landowners are typically compensated for the use of their property. The agreement specifies the monetary payments, royalties, or lease terms that the gas company will provide to the landowner in exchange for granting access to the subsurface resources. 3. Environmental safeguards: The agreement includes provisions to protect the environment, such as requiring the gas company to comply with all applicable local, state, and federal environmental regulations. It may also include requirements for reclamation and remediation of the land after drilling operations are completed. 4. Indemnification: The agreement may address indemnification, ensuring that the gas company is responsible for any damages or liabilities arising from their activities on the land. 5. Access restrictions: The agreement may outline restrictions on specific areas of the land, such as environmentally sensitive areas, buildings, water sources, or agricultural fields, where drilling or construction activities are prohibited or must be carefully managed. 6. Term and termination: The agreement establishes the duration of the contract and conditions for termination, including circumstances under which the gas company may cease operations. 7. Water resource protection: Given the importance of water resources, the agreement often includes provisions for water management and protection, such as restrictions on water withdrawal, monitoring requirements, and measures to prevent contamination of water sources. Different types of Pennsylvania Surface Use Agreements may exist depending on specific entities involved or variations in the contractual provisions. Some additional agreement types may include: 1. Standard Surface Use Agreement: This is the most common type that addresses the general terms and conditions applicable to most landowners. 2. Customized Surface Use Agreement: In certain cases, landowners may negotiate unique terms to cater to their specific circumstances or concerns. 3. Cooperative Surface Use Agreement: Multiple landowners in the same vicinity may enter into a cooperative agreement designed to ensure uniform terms and requirements for gas companies extracting resources from their collective properties. In summary, the Pennsylvania Surface Use Agreement is a legally binding contract that regulates the use of land for natural gas extraction. It covers aspects such as compensation, environmental protection, access restrictions, water resource management, and can take various forms depending on the specific needs and preferences of the involved parties.

Pennsylvania Surface Use Agreement is a legal contract between landowners and natural gas companies that establishes the terms and conditions for the exploration and extraction of natural gas resources located beneath the surface of the land in Pennsylvania. This agreement is crucial in the state's Marcellus Shale region, which has witnessed a significant increase in shale gas development. The Pennsylvania Surface Use Agreement outlines various provisions to ensure responsible and safe extraction practices while protecting the rights and interests of both parties involved. Important keywords associated with this agreement include: 1. Surface rights: The agreement defines the rights granted to the gas company to access and use the land surface for drilling activities, constructing well pads, access roads, and pipelines. 2. Compensation: Landowners are typically compensated for the use of their property. The agreement specifies the monetary payments, royalties, or lease terms that the gas company will provide to the landowner in exchange for granting access to the subsurface resources. 3. Environmental safeguards: The agreement includes provisions to protect the environment, such as requiring the gas company to comply with all applicable local, state, and federal environmental regulations. It may also include requirements for reclamation and remediation of the land after drilling operations are completed. 4. Indemnification: The agreement may address indemnification, ensuring that the gas company is responsible for any damages or liabilities arising from their activities on the land. 5. Access restrictions: The agreement may outline restrictions on specific areas of the land, such as environmentally sensitive areas, buildings, water sources, or agricultural fields, where drilling or construction activities are prohibited or must be carefully managed. 6. Term and termination: The agreement establishes the duration of the contract and conditions for termination, including circumstances under which the gas company may cease operations. 7. Water resource protection: Given the importance of water resources, the agreement often includes provisions for water management and protection, such as restrictions on water withdrawal, monitoring requirements, and measures to prevent contamination of water sources. Different types of Pennsylvania Surface Use Agreements may exist depending on specific entities involved or variations in the contractual provisions. Some additional agreement types may include: 1. Standard Surface Use Agreement: This is the most common type that addresses the general terms and conditions applicable to most landowners. 2. Customized Surface Use Agreement: In certain cases, landowners may negotiate unique terms to cater to their specific circumstances or concerns. 3. Cooperative Surface Use Agreement: Multiple landowners in the same vicinity may enter into a cooperative agreement designed to ensure uniform terms and requirements for gas companies extracting resources from their collective properties. In summary, the Pennsylvania Surface Use Agreement is a legally binding contract that regulates the use of land for natural gas extraction. It covers aspects such as compensation, environmental protection, access restrictions, water resource management, and can take various forms depending on the specific needs and preferences of the involved parties.