Could 2007 be the year that US Congress addresses the split estates question? The idea that another entity-often the federal government-could hold subsurface rights to an individual’s property is incomprehensible in most of the US. It’s a part of life in the West, however, and it can lead to conflicts.It’s remarkable that it hasn’t done so more often. Energy and mineral lessees say it’s because they’ve learned to operate with minimal disruptions to surface activities. Some surface land owners respond that they have no choice but to cooperate, and that they are tired of it.The conflict quickly surfaced (for lack of a better term) as two House Natural Res...