Oil and natural gas companies are committed to being good neighbors and positively impacting communities by minimizing surface disturbance and protecting our environment. When developing site plans, natural gas producers must meet a host of regulations and follow best practices aimed at restoring land and habitats to their original state — or better. Operators work closely with landowners and host communities throughout this process.
For instance, landowners wanting to improve agriculture capabilities may ask for certain drainage controls, impoundments/livestock watering features or access corridors to inaccessible portions of farmland. As another example, landowners interested in timber harvesting may want access roads to remain in place post-development to facilitate future timber harvests. These agreements are made directly with leaseholders and natural gas producers and midstream companies.
Additionally, the MSC worked closely with conservation groups in producing our Site Planning, Development and Restoration Recommended Practice, available online here. And as you may know, horizontal drilling technologies allow our industry to produce much higher amounts of clean-burning natural gas while dramatically reducing our aboveground footprint. This is yet another clear winner for the habits that we all seek to protect and enhance.
