Background

Tens of thousands of new oil, gas and coalbed methane wells have been drilled in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, New Mexico, Wyoming and other parts of the West. More are planned.

Oil and gas drilling has turned agricultural land into industrial sites with pipelines, roads, compression stations, transmission lines, wastewater ponds, and well pads. This development has often destroyed hay meadows, spread noxious weeds, disturbed farm or ranch operations, and devalued property.

Too many private property landowners have been burdened with the effects of oil and gas drilling on their land and water.
The federal government controls the minerals under millions of acres of private property and leases these resources to oil and gas companies for development. The mineral owner has the legal right to develop oil and gas on a landowner’s property, putting the surface owner at a disadvantage.

It’s time to balance the scale between private property rights of landowners and oil and gas development.

Strong support in Colorado’s Western Slope and Montana for property rights of surface owners

Surveys conducted for WORC found overwhelming support among voters in Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District and Montana for a federal measure strengthening protections for private property owners facing of oil and gas drilling on their land.

More than eight-out-of-ten voters surveyed favor an amendment in Congress that would strengthen protections for private property owners.

Read Colorado 3rd Congressional District survey key findings
Read Colorado 3rd Congressional District survey press results

Read Montana voter survey key findings
Read Montana voter survey press results
Read Billings Gazette article