BUTLER — Due to public demand, the workshop titled "Natural Gas Leasing for Landowners" will be rebroadcast from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. April 9, 11, 16, and 19 at the Butler County Extension Office to provide participants with information to help them make informed decisions.

Deep well natural gas development can cause significant impact on land ownership and create challenges for the relationship between private landowners and gas exploration companies. The most common point of contact is during the gas leasing process. Sometimes there is a great deal of pressure from competition for properties and in many cases landowners are unprepared to negotiate complex leases that may have significant long-term impact on their property.

This workshop is intended to help private landowners understand the process of gas exploration and leasing. It will review the exploration process, terms in a company lease, and possible economic impact on taxes and estates. The workshop will feature a panel of experts, including extension educators who are also gas lessors, a gas lease attorney, a gas lease consultant, and a representative from the state Department of Environmental Protection. Rural landowners who understand the gas exploration and leasing process will make better decisions for their land and families.

This workshop is for educational purposes only. No part of it is to be considered legal advice and should not be viewed as a substitute for legal counsel which is strongly recommended before signing any legal document.

The registration fee for the workshop is $10 per person. Registration is required by contacting the Butler County Extension Office at 724-287-4761. Checks should be made payable to "Extension Special Account" and mailed to 101 Motor Pool Way, Butler, PA 16001. Seating is limited to the first 40 paid registrants for each workshop date.

This material is submitted by Donna Zang, Extension director, and the staff of the Penn State Extension office at the Sunnyview complex.