On July 9, 2013, Governor Corbett signed into law Senate Bill 259, also known as the Oil and Gas Lease Act (Act), amending the Guaranteed Minimum Royalty Act. In addition to providing new rights and requirements as to payments resulting from the production under oil and gas leases, the Act authorizes...

By Matthew L. Lambach The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Allegheny County Council rejected a proposed three-year moratorium on natural gas drilling within county parks. The measure failed 2-9, with four council members abstaining because of conflicts of interest. The bill was originally proposed...

By Michael T. Altvater The Belmont County Court of Common Pleas ruled that a recorded will is a title transaction for purposes of Ohio’s Dormant Mineral Act. In Albanese v. Batman the trial court held that a will recorded in the county recorder’s office qualifies as title transaction and...

By Joshua F. Hall On April 24, 2014, Representative Robert Matzie of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, indicated in a statement that he will introduce legislation concerning liability for damage caused by a party conducting seismic testing. The statement indicates that the soon to be proposed...

By Michael C. Murphy Citing a recently decided case in Colorado, the bankruptcy trustee for Norse Energy filed a motion in early August urging the New York Court of Appeals to re-hear arguments in the case. In June, the Court of Appeals issued an opinion which affirmed local zoning laws adopted by...