Bills Affecting Production Reporting And Lease Termination Pass PA House and Senate
Two bills primarily sponsored by PA Representative Tina Pickett (Republican, Bradford/Sullivan/Susquehanna) have recently passed the State House and Senate. House Bill (HB) 2278, Unconventional Well Report Act, would require the operator of an unconventional well to file a monthly report specifying the amount of production with the Department of Environmental Protection. Currently, production is reported to the Department every six months. HB 402, Recording of Surrender Documents from Oil and Natural Gas Lease Act, states that a lessee shall deliver to a lessor a surrender document not more than 30 days after the termination, expiration or cancellation of an oil or gas lease. If a lessor does not receive such notice within the 30 day time period, the lessor is permitted to serve notice on the lessee. A lessor who has served notice and fails to receive a timely challenge from the lessee may record an affidavit of termination, expiration or cancellation of a lease in the recorder’s office of the applicable county. The bills are awaiting review by Governor Tom Corbett.