Legal Issues
The exploration of Marcellus shale raises some significant legal questions at a variety of levels. Individuals making leasing decisions need to consult an attorney to understand their options and to protect their legal rights.
- Surface land owners not owning drilling rights need
to understand what they can and cannot do if a company appears ready to
drill on their land.
- Local governments need to understand how
Pennsylvania’s Oil and Gas Act affects their abilities to regulate well
locations, and to use land-use planning tools to influence the impacts
of drilling.
- Citizens need to understand their rights to affect the decisions that may affect the water they drink, the landscape around them, and their quality of life.
Dickinson School of Law Natural Gas Exploration
Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center
