Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that limits the number of onshore exploration sites for oil, gas and geothermal wells.

Highlights:

• Prohibits any individual from engaging in onshore exploration that disturbs more than one surface acre or involves drilling to greater than 50 feet without first obtaining a permit from the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (Sec. 1).

• Requires the application permit issued by the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries to include a single 40-acre contiguous exploration boundary, a $2,000 application fee, as well as the following information, including (Sec. 1):

• The name and address of the surface and mineral owner;

•  The name and addresses of the individuals conducting the exploration or designated agent;

• A brief description of the exploration activities, including, but not limited to:

• The amount of road to be constructed;

• The number, depth, and location of the proposed drill holes and proposed monitoring wells;

• The number, length, width, and depth of exploration trenches;

• Provisions for the reclamation of surface disturbance caused by exploration activities;

• Exploration drill hole or monitoring well abandonment procedures, including, but not limited to: and

• The capping of all holes;

• The plugging of any hole producing flow; and

• Appropriate sealing for any holes which have encountered aquifers; 

• An exploration boundary map with the location of the proposed exploration and delineation of exploration boundaries.

• Specifies that nothing in this act shall prohibit the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries from suspending or revolving a permit for onshore oil exploration (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits an individual who has obtained a permit from the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries from engaging in surface mining that results in the extraction of 5,000 cubic yards or less of minerals (Sec. 3).

• Establishes a renewal fee of $1,200 for an operating permit that did not extract minerals during the proceeding 12-month period and a renewal fee of $1,460 plus 0.0125 per ton of minerals extracted during the proceeding 12-month period (Sec. 4).

• Establishes the following fees related to onshore oil exploration, including, but not limited to (Sec. 6):

• A $500 fee to extend the period for drilling completion;

• A $1,000 fee to plug and abandon a well; and

• A $2,000 non-refundable fee to transfer a well permit, information hole permit or seismic program permit.

• Prohibits an individual from drilling or operating a geothermal well, not in compliance with their application permit issued by the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text