Landowner Stories

Private property owners harmed by oil and gas drilling are speaking out against irresponsible energy development.

Steve Adami Buffalo, Wyoming

I am a rancher and lifelong resident of Buffalo, Wyoming. I was offered a one size fits all, non-negotiable surface use agreement to use my ranch. I asked for some changes and received nothing.

Bruce Thomson Durango, Colorado

My wife and I own 157 acres east of Durango, Colorado, that we plan to develop. In 2000, we received notice from BP Amoco of their intention to drill another gas well on our land. I specifically asked to work directly with whomever was authorized to make decisions regarding well placement, pad size, noise mitigation and compensation. After many hours of work and numerous walks on the land, we had come to an agreement with specific protections for about a dozen, large Ponderosas.

Donny Nelson McKenzie County, North Dakota

My family and I have been farming and ranching in McKenzie County, located in western North Dakota where we have dealt with the benefits and the pitfalls of being located between two oil and gas fields for over 50 years. We have had oil and gas development on our ranch since exploration and development began in North Dakota in the mid-1950s. There is not a time that I can remember not having to deal with the oil and gas industry.

Chris Velasquez Northwestern New Mexico

My family has been ranching in northwest New Mexico since 1922. We run cows on our ranch and on surrounding public lands managed by the BLM’s Farmington Field Office. We have problems all the time with oil company workers leaving gates open, driving across our pastures and generally causing erosion as well as other problems.

Jeanie Alderson Birney, Montana

My father and two sisters own Bones Brothers Ranch, a cow/calf ranching operation in southeast Montana. We own and pay taxes on 8,435 acres and lease grazing land on the Custer National Forest. While we own some of the mineral rights below our land, other family members and the federal government own the rest.

Pete Dube Campbell County, Wyoming

My wife and I own an outfitting business in Buffalo, Wyoming, and about six years ago we bought 5,000 acres in Campbell County as a place to run cows and winter the horses we use for outfitting. The bulk of the minerals under our land are owned by the BLM.