Tell the Texas Railroad Commission:
Don’t railroad Texans’ fracking property rights!
Dear Texan:
Where are Texans' property rights going?
The Texas Railroad Commission is considering creating rules to implement the Mineral Interest Pooling Act (MIPA). MIPA is the statute that authorizes “forced pooling” in Texas – whereby contiguous mineral rights owners can be forced into “units” and have their minerals extracted… even against their will.
Despite the statute’s enactment over 30 years ago, administrative rules have never been adopted for MIPA.
The reason the TRC is considering the rules now? Among other things, they want to legitimize railroading (hah!) small landowners — who want no part of production/leasing — into not just drilling, but PAYING for the drilling they don’t want. If the well isn’t profitable, new rules could wind up losing landowners money.
MIPA is objectionable as written and currently enforced, even with no rules. That the Commission is considering regulations that would further disadvantage landowners to the benefit of big oil and gas is obscene.
TAKE ACTION: Speak up for Texans’ property rights and send a letter to the Railroad Commission. Tell them any new rules must better protect our property rights from the oil and gas industry.
Thank you!
Sharon Wilson, EARTHWORKS’ Gulf Regional Organizer
Instructions:
- Click here to go to the action page.
- Once on the action page, send/amend the sample letter to the right. Personalized letters have a much greater impact.
- Click “send your message” to send the Texas Railroad Commission. Your letters will also be hand delivered at a public hearing on January 30th.
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- Find more info on the action page.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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What happens in the two “forced instances, Art 37 or MIPA, as far as surface access goes?
That is, in NYS under what is called Compulsory Integration (same as forced pooling), the property owner does have retained all surface rights; the driller can only drill underneath.
It’s a great rule! It keeps one little mineral owner from dictating if hie neighbor gets drilled! Railroad Commission of Texas needs to pass this!
You’re a little late to the party.