With recent growth of the gas and oil industry, we have been receiving an increasing number of phone calls about problems and concerns related to this industry.  While the Soil & Water Office are not authorized or equipped to deal with most these issues, we are able to provide resources on managing right-of-ways, which can be found below. 

If you need help with other issues related to gas and oil development please contact the ODNR Division of Oil and Gas. They are the governing body for the industry and will be best suited to answering any questions.

Landowner Checklist for Oil and Gas Easement Right-of-Ways

Seeding Recommendations for Pipeline Right-of-Ways
  1. Ingress and Egress Routes(certified survey of location)
  2. Temporary Routes
  3. Clearing Brush and trees- (Value of Timber Harvested and Future Timber Production, Stack harvested timber at accessible location, chip cherry tree leaves before fence is built, stump grinding)
  4. Topsoil Removal and Protection
  5. Depth of Cover over pipeline
  6. Rock Removal and Disposal
  7. Repair Affected Tile Lines
  8. Additional Drainage Tile Lines
  9. Repair of Existing Conservation Practices Disturbed During Construction
  10. Trench Washouts, Water Piping, and Blow Out Repair
  11. Pumping Water from Open Trenches
  12. Subsoil De-compaction, soil shattering, and Stone removal
  13. Backfill Profile, and Trench Crowning
  14. Recoupment of CAUV tax savings if land use changes from Agriculture to Commercial due to construction
  15. Seeding and Fertilizer Recommendations, Lime and N-P-K Rates, Seed Varieties and rates, pasture mix( some may not want fescue included)
  16. Right of Way Easement Width (Construction and Permanent Widths)(certified survey)
  17. Pipeline size, number and Pressure
  18. Crop Damages
  19. Fence Repair or Replacement, gates, cattle guards depending upon individual desires
  20. Abandoment Clause
  21. Pipeline Construction Method- “Double Ditch” Method
  22. Payment Due Date
  23. Pipeline Size Limitations
  24. Access roads- Limitations and damages
  25. Payment for Easement Area, First Pipeline, Second/Additional Pipelines, Pigs, valves, and other above ground Appurtenances, Access Roads, temporary water line payment, staging & storage
  26. Spring/ water supply Repair/ Replacement
  27. Restrictions on Grantor/ Grantee Use of Easements
  28. Limitations on Electric Power Lines and Communication Cables
  29. Prior Notice Before Entering Property?
  30. Insurance Coverage- Grantee Minimum Levels of Coverage?
  31. Indemnification of Grantor and Heirs etc., hold harmless
  32. Time limit of 1 year to begin construction or agreement voided(90 days construction limit)
  33. Pipeline Location Approval
  34. Mowing every other year (non-cropland areas)(must be green and growing)
  35. Easement notorized and recorded in County Records office
Seedings should be comparable to the existing species composition of the surrounding area, whether it is hayland or pastureland.  For non agricultural land, the pasture land seed mixtures/rates can be used.

HAYLAND SEED MIXTURES

A)     Alfalfa/ grass mixtures
  • Alfalfa – 10 Lbs. per acre   PLUS
  • Orchard grass -5 lbs. per acre  OR
  • Perennial Rye grass -8 lbs. per acre  OR
  • Smooth Brome grass -5 lbs. per acre

B)      Clover/ grass mixture
  • Red Clover -6 lbs. per acre  PLUS
  • Orchard grass -5 lbs. per acre  OR
  • Perennial Rye grass -8 lbs. per acre  OR
  • Smooth Brome grass -5 lbs. per acre

C)      Birdsfoot Trefoil/ Grass mixture
Birdsfoot Trefoil -5 lbs. per acre  PLUS
Perennial Rye grass -8 lbs. per acre  OR
Smooth Brome grass -5 lbs. per acre

PASTURE LAND SEED MIXTURES

A)     Clover-grass Mix
  • White Clover -2 lbs. per acre  PLUS
  • Orchardgrass -7 lbs. per acre  OR
  • Kentucky Blue grass -7 lbs. per acre  OR
  • Perennial Rye grass  -15 lbs. per acre

B)      Birdsfoot Trefoil-Grass Mix
  • Birdsfoot Trefoil -5 lbs. per acre  PLUS
  • Orchardgrass -7 lbs. per acre  OR
  • Kentucky Blue grass -7 lbs. per acre  OR
  • Perennial Rye grass -15 lbs. per acre

C)      Orchardgrass -10 lbs. per acre

D)     Perennial Rye Grass -24 lbs. per acre

E)      Tall Fescue -15 lbs. per acre 
(ENDOPHYTE FREE VARIETIES ONLY!)

 NOTE: Grass varieties can be combined into mixes by applying the desired varieties at half the rates listed.

SOIL TESTS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR NUTRIENT APPLICATION!

In lieu of a soil test, the following is recommended for making seedings.

– 300 lbs. of 19-19-19 fertilizer per acre

– 2 tons of ground agricultural limestone per acre

TEMPORARY/ QUICK COVER FOR DISTURBED AREAS

A)     Oats  -90 lbs. per acre

B)      Rye or Wheat  -100 lbs. per acre

C)      Annual Rye grass -24 lbs. per acre