Tuesday Webinar to Focus on Leases and Royalties During Gas Downturn

Washington & Jefferson College Center for Energy Policy and Management (CEPM) will host the second webinar in its series on “Effects of COVID-19 and the Economic Downturn on Western Pennsylvania Shale Gas Development” on Tuesday, July 23.

During the hour-long webinar beginning at 10 a.m., local attorney and founder of MPF Management Joseph Morascyzk will talk about current and future economic conditions in the area’s shale gas industry and how they will impact property owners’ mineral rights leases and royalty payments from gas development. A founding partner of Morascyzk & Polochak and a W&J alumnus, Morascyzk has represented landowners in regard to a variety of issues relevant to the Appalachian Basin’s developing oil and gas industry and lease transactions in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. There will also be an opportunity for questions.

The final webinar on July 14 will feature Jesse Bushman, revenue analyst at the state Independent Fiscal Office, who will give a high-level overview of the trends in Pennsylvania's natural gas production and how that affects statewide Act 13 Impact Fee revenues and local government revenues.

The webinars are part of CEPM’s Shale Gas Knowledge Hub initiative. To register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/effects-of-covid-19-and-the-economic-downturn-on-western-pennsylvania-shale-tickets-107701618440 or email lritzer@washjeff.edu.

For further information, please contact Linda Ritzer, CEPM program manager/policy analyst, at 412-997-3164.

The first webinar on June 16 featured Daniel J. Weaver, president and executive director of the Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association, who provided an overview of the shale gas industry in our region and the challenges and opportunities in the years ahead. The programs will also be made available on the Shale Gas Knowledge Hub website at shalehub.org.