Leases expanded in areas of State Game Lands 12 and 223.
Harrisburg, PA -(Ammoland.com)- The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved the amendment of two energy leases, which would result in bonus payments of more than $912,000 to the commission.
The amendment to the commission’s lease with Chief Exploration & Development LLC of Dallas, Texas would result in a bonus payment of $898,000. Chief currently leases 19,133 acres beneath State Game Lands 12 in Bradford and Sullivan counties.
The amendment would add about 449 acres to that lease. The added acreage would be for non-surface use in Overton Township, Bradford County and Elkland Township, Sullivan County. Chief has a strong lease position surrounding the proposed amendment area, and the amendment will result in no additional surface use or disturbance to the game lands.
The terms of the amendment are consistent with the commission’s existing agreement with Chief, approved in September 2013. In addition to the $2,000 per acre bonus payment, Chief would pay 23 percent in royalties for all oil and gas, and other liquids or condensates produced and sold from the tract.
The board also voted today to amend an existing lease agreement with Chevron Appalachia LLC in Dunkard Township, Greene County. The existing lease for oil and gas rights beneath State Game Lands 223 totals about 2,065 acres. The amendment would add three tracts under which the Game Commission owns half or all of the oil and gas rights. The tracts total 13.75 surface acres, with the oil and gas acreage spanning 9.36 acres. Chevron has leased the privately owned oil and gas rights and agreed to non-surface use on these portions of the game lands.
The terms and conditions of the lease will remain consistent with the existing agreement, approved by the Commission in April 2008, except the bonus payment will be increased from $125 per acre to $1,500 per acre for the amended acreage.
About the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC)
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is legally mandated to manage wildlife for the benefit of all Pennsylvanians, as well as all wildlife and the habitat that supports their existence. Pennsylvania’s Constitution and Game and Wildlife Code direct the Game Commission to protect, manage, and preserve wildlife and their habitat within the Commonwealth for the benefit of all people, including generations yet to come. Based on this direction, the Game Commission adopted the mission statement “to manage all wild birds, wild mammals, and their habitats for current and future generations.”