Marcellus Shale

Leasing your property to an oil or gas company is an option for producing income from your property. Before signing a lease on your forestland, there are many things to consider to protect your interests. Building roads, installing pipelines, and clearing drilling pads will affect many forest values. This 4-page fact sheet will help you understand these issues and your options in making the right decision for you and your forestland.

Natural gas well development is an increasingly common sight across Pennsylvania’s farms and forests. While the landowner may receive potentially lucrative financial returns in terms of lease and royalty payments, understanding the short- and long-term impact of well drilling and pipeline installation activities on your soils and their future productivity is important.

Pennsylvania’s forests are an important renewable natural resource and include some of the nation’s most commercially valuable hardwood species. However, they are more than just an economic resource. Pennsylvania’s forests provide, among many things, recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, quality water, and clean air.