Will towns be able to control shale drilling in their communities?
Saturday, August 2, 2014
The Plain Dealer reports that another town has decided to take action against oil and gas companies wishing to drill wells.
The village of Gates Mills, a suburb of Cleveland, wants a bill of rights on the election ballot in November that would give local communities the power to ban fracking, even though the state regulates drilling.
So, Gates Mills Mayor Shawn Riley “wants property owners to pool their land, decide if and where hydraulic fracturing will be located in the village, and split the royalties.” However, some residents fear this will only open the door to more oil and gas companies to drill.
Other Ohio towns that face lawsuits from oil and gas companies because of local zoning include Broadview Heights and Munroe Falls. A drilling ban in a town in Colorado was found to be overruled by state law. A couple towns in New York, however, have seen fracking banned.
Via: The Plain Dealer > The fracking debate: How communities are trying to control fracking
Related story: Fracking causes controversy in some towns
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Shale FAQ
How often do royalty payments come?
Depending on the company, royalty payments can arrive monthly or quarterly.
Are my royalty payments transferable?
Yes. If you plan on selling your property, notify the gas company that is leasing your land and your realtor. They will make arrangements to allow the royalty payments to transfer to a different land owner.
What are royalties?
Royalties are payments from the gas company to the landowner as part of a lease agreement. Royalties payments cannot begin until production begins. The payments are dependent upon the market price of the resource.