Gas drilling has taken Western Pennsylvania by storm in the last few years. The growth in this industry is in part due to demand for 'clean' fuel sources, but the property owners who have had their surface property taken over for gas extraction will say that the deal is nothing buy dirty.

The Center for Coalfield Justice makes these resources available to citizens affected by gas drilling, and also operates a strategy group in conjunction with the Mountain Watershed Association in order to work toward better protections for surface property owners. For more information on the strategy group or to join, please contact us.

• Coalbed Methane Drilling Informationt for Affected Property Owners
• CBM Informational Brochure and Fact Sheet (prepared by the Greene, Washington and Fayette County Conservation Districts)
• Landowners Toolkit: distributed at a workshop on Oil &Gas and CBM
  • Geology information
  • Know your rights
  • Permitting Process
  • Ten things to look for in a lease
  • Legal resources
  • Get involved with your legislators
  • Powerpoint presentation
• Need information on Title Searching? Click here.

Links to Good Resources on Coalbed Methane Drilling

• Comprehensive description of CBM by PA DCNR
• Detailed description of CBM by the Energy Justice Network
• Split estate Information at Earthworks
• CBM landowner rights powerpoint presentation by Southwestern Pennsylvania Woodland Owners Association
• Fact Sheet by Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC)
• Personal testimonials from affected property owners in Orion Magazine's November/December 2006 issue

CBM information from the U.S. Geological Survey

• Coalbed Methane: Potential and Concerns
• Water Produced with Coalbed Methane

Links to resources from the Powder River Basin in Wyoming

• "The Dirty Side of Clean Energy" in the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law
• "In the West, a Water Fight Over Quality, Not Quantity" in the New York Times
• "Court Orders Feds to Halt Wyoming Coalbed Methane Permit Program" at Powder River Basin Resource Council
• "Coalbed Methane: Gas Boom, Environmental Bust" at Powder River Basin Resource Council

Links to Local Articles on CBM and Natural Gas Extraction

• "Pennsylvania's Wild Natural Gas Rush" in Lancaster Online 7/14/08
• "Why Gas Bonanza is No Boon to Landowners" in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 3/16/07
• "Landowners Powerless in Drilling" in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review 3/16/07
• "Lawsuit in Tiny Community Could Determine Oil and Gas Drilling Rights" in the Pittsburgh Business Times 8/25/06
• "Mineral Rights Give Gas Drillers Free Reign" in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 8/23/06