First and foremost, anytime a gas or pipeline company wants you
to sign any contract you must thoroughly understand the document
and any and all consequences that may result upon execution of
the document.  Unfortunately, I have seen landowners lose
hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars where they
blindly executed serious legal documents without fully
understanding their leverage and options.  It is important not
to repeat these costly mistakes and make certain you completely
understand the document you are signing and the potential
consequences of your signature.              In that regard,
many gas companies in Pennsylvania are approaching landowners
and asking them to agree to a Modification and Amendment
(“Modification”) of their existing Lease.  Modifications can
take many forms. Many Modifications are non-negotiable, but some
Modifications are absolutely negotiable and should be carefully
negotiated to maximize landowner benefits.               The
first crucial step for the landowner is t