Rikiho letter: Fracking bill

SB 1339 is in the House Resource Committee. This bill addresses the “business” of forced pooling, or “integration by order,” restricting the land owner from taking legal action or gaining information in regards to oil and gas drilling (fracking). Alta Mesa, a gas and oil drilling company, brought forth the bill to “expedite” the process when land owners lease their mineral rights, or when they are forced to because all their neighbors did so.

While this bill may expedite the process, it does not give property owners or the public any rights to dispute direct or indirect consequences of fracking on their land. Mortgage companies may call your loan “due” when it is learned that gas or oil extraction is occurring. Land owners need more than 10 calendar days’ notice to get approval from their lender. Homeowners insurance policies exclude damage from environmental contamination and you will be held liable for it. A representative from Alta Mesa stated blatantly that the mortgage and insurance issue was virtually nonexistent, when in fact these occurrences are highly documented.

I hope and pray our legislators would consider the voices of all Idahoans.

This story was originally published March 3, 2016 at 6:37 PM with the headline "Rikiho letter: Fracking bill."