CITIZEN POWER ALLIANCE

Growing concern about tactics from gas prospectors has led to new warnings to Southern Tier residents from the state attorney general.

The Binghamton office is investigating dozens of complaints about practices of landmen seeking property owners' signatures on mineral lease contracts, said Mike Danaher, assistant state attorney general in the local office.

Some residents are claiming landmen -- representatives of energy companies seeking to tap gas reserves below private property -- have used misleading or deceptive practices to get people to sign deals they later regret.

The complaints, and the large number of property owners with a stake in negotiations, have led to a public educational forum tonight at Broome Community College.

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