BY LAUREL SCHAEFFER Staff Correspondent MYERSTOWN A number of fanners in Berks County, con cerned about their land and the protection of their own interests, have recently formed an Energy Group affiliated with the Penn sylvania Farmers Association. The groups purpose is primarily for negotiating oil and gas leases with interested' petroleum com panies, explains George Moyer, Myerstown, chairman of the Berks County Group, and to educate landowners so they can better understand the implications in volved in these leases. Moyer, a dairyman whose farm is located between the Blue Mountains and Myerstown was first contacted by an oil company official last February. The oil company was interested in leasing the petroleum rights on his farm for ten years, offering's “sales pitch” that seemed “too nice,” Moyer recalls. • ' Upon finding out that this company and two others were JANUARY SALE ON E9LOMBARDINI ENGINES The Powerhouse I.»ewiiew 26 Different Models Designed to Fit Most Gasoline Engine Applications 1 Year Warranty, All Direct Injection For Easy Starting Lombardini Diesel .Uses Vz or Less Fuel Than Gas Engines. Less Downtime Than Gas Engines. With Milker Setup Model L-27 With 4 to I Clutch Reduction Model L2O,I4VSMtI.P. Continuous @ 1800 R.P.M. or 25 H.P. SAE @ 2200 R.P.M. w/electrics 207 Model L 27 w/starter, 2C 1 /? H.P. con tinuous at 1800 R.P.M. or 34 H.P. - SAE @ 2200 R.P.M *2905 Model L4O w/starter, 30 H.P. con tinuous @ 1800 R.P.M. or 48 H.P. 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Presently there are 13 members and several more farmers are planning to Join the group, says Moyer. As members, landowners agree not to sign any oil and gas leases until the energy group has negotiated with, the petroleum companies. Attorneys from PFA will act as negotiators for the energy group and prepare lease agreements for individual members. PFA and the group members have voiced their con cern that the present leases being offered by the oil and gas com panies are “one-sided” being V * ' JS- _ Air Compressor Model 720 Engine On Baler *3585 *1385 *945 Let Us Know Your Service Problems 24 Hour Service - Check Our Prices prepared by the oil companies and are not in the landowners’ best interests. They say landowners should be asking for: better monetary terms; reduction of lease terms from 10 years to 3 years or less; the right to inspect company monthly reports, well records and well meters; proper restoration of the land surface and payment for all damaged land; the right to determine the location of wells, pipelines, access roads and other structures; and the protection against the drainage of oil and gas by wells onneighboringproperties. Moyer emphasizes the energy group is not against leasing land to the oil and gas companies, but for better terms. By forming energy groups, landowners have greater strength in negotiating by con trolling larger tracts of land, Moyer explains. Presently the Berks County Energy Group has approximately 2,500 acres of land among it’s members. Moyer points out that the three oil and gas companies that be is » A* Model 530 Engine With Binder Model L-54 Engine With Cut-ditioner ★ SALE GOOD JANUARY 1 THRU JANUARY 30th 10% DOWN WILL HOLD AT THESE PRICES FOR IN ST ALL AT lON UNTIL MAY 1. 1982 Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, January 23,1982—A17 aware of have been interested in land laying along the Blue Mountains. Nevertheless anyone in the county can join the energy group, regardless of whether an oil company is interested in leasing their land. Presently PFA has formed energy groups in several other counties which are already negotiating for individual leases. dude; seated, left, Secretary-Treasurer George Manbeck; Vice Chairman Wilbur Hershey; standing. Chairman George Moyer. CALL US FOR FREE ESTIMATES on TOP QUALITY BARN SPRAY & BRUSH PAINTING Try Our New Concept In Penetration And Adhesion. To earn a dollar ■ give a dollars worth of service and work Pay only $750 tor the best kind of barn painting on an average barn ■ if you pay more you paid too much. On barn siding painting - temperature and timing ate factors as well as penetrating kind of quality for adhesion are helpful guides for long lasting under average conditions of siding type and age Li wilt share helpful guidelines on roof maintenance of steel roofs by brushing on | the prime time. The farmers in Lancaster Co. are lucky because of the amount of competition in barn painting. Check with us for the best deal! PHARES S. HURST Years of experience plus self Rd 1. Box 420, Narvon. PA ,17555 employment gives you quality 215-445-6186 work for less expense. Membership in the energy group is open to landowners who have paid their PFA membership dues plus an initial membership fee of $5O to cover expenses of the PFA attorneys working with the group. Once leases have been negotiated and bonus payments have been made by the oil and gas company, (Torn to Page Al 9) In 1982 BRUNING
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