Alva Review-Courier -

WYALUSING, Pa. (AP) — Jan Brown pores over his royalty statement and wonders where all the money went.

A few months ago, the nation's second-largest natural gas producer siphoned $2,201 worth of gas from his 240-acre property — but paid him only $359 after taking deductions for transportation and processing.

Brown, 59, who relies on the royalties as his sole source of income, says the deductions are outrageous and claims his lease forbids them. He feels cheated and duped.

In Pennsylvania and other leading gas-producing states, a battle royal has developed over royalties, with landowners bitter...