Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb401%20intr.htm&yr=2011&sesstype=4X&billtype=B&houseorig=H&i=401
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 05:44:40+00:00

Document:
A BILL to repeal §22C-7-1, §22C-7-2 and §22C-7-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §5B-2B-4a; to amend and reenact §22-6-1 and §22-6-2 of said code; to amend and reenact said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §22-6-2a; to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §22-6A-1, §22-6A-2, §22-6A-3, §22-6A-3a, §22-6A-4, §22-6A-5, §22-6A-6, §22-6A-7, §22-6A-8, §22-6A-9, §22-6A-10, §22-6A-11, §22-6A-12, §22-6A-13, §22-6A-14, §22-6A-15, §22-6A-16, §22-6A-17, §22-6A-18, §22-6A-19, §22-6A-20, §22-6A-21, §22-6A-22, §22-6A-23 and §22-6A-24; to amend and reenact said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §22-6B-1, §22-6B-2, §22-6B-3, §22-6B-4, §22-6B-5, §22-6B-6, §22-6B-7 and §22-6B-8; to amend and reenact §22C-8-2 of said code; and to amend and reenact §22C-9-2 of said code, all relating generally to oil and gas wells; requiring West Virginia Workforce Investment Council to complete certain reviews and provide report to Legislature; expanding powers of Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection; authorizing secretary to determine number of oil and gas inspectors and supervisors and to make investigations or inspections to ensure compliance with applicable law; providing for inspector qualifications, duties and minimum salaries; creating Natural Gas Horizontal Well Control Act; providing short title; making legislative findings and declarations of public policy; providing for applicability of act and exceptions; providing special considerations and rule making for karst formations; defining terms; making horizontal wells subject to certain provisions in article six, chapter twenty-two of the Code of West Virginia; specifying powers and duties of secretary, including certain rule making power and reporting duties; requiring permit for horizontal wells; establishing permit application requirements and contents; requiring bond and permit fees; providing for issuance of emergency permits; providing for denial, suspension and reinstatement of permits in certain circumstances; providing for application review, requirements for issuance of permit and permit requirements; establishing performance standards; providing for copies of permits to be furnished to county assessors; requiring certificate of approval for large pits or impoundment construction; requiring application for certificate; establishing application requirements and payment of fees; providing for modification, revocation or suspension of certificate and hearing procedure, including an administrative appeals process; providing exceptions for certain farm ponds; authorizing secretary to propose legislative rules governing large pits and impoundment; providing notice to certain property owners of certain applications, intent to enter property or conduct seismic activity; establishing procedure for filing written comments; establishing well location restrictions; requiring promulgation of legislative rules for plugging and abandonment of horizontal wells; establishing reclamation requirements; requiring performance bonds or other security; providing notice of planned operation and contents of notice to certain surface owners; providing notice to certain surface owner and offer for compensation for certain damages to certain surface owner; providing for reimbursement of property taxes to surface owner; providing for civil action, rebuttable presumption and relief for water contamination or deprivation; establishing water rights and replacement procedure; establishing civil penalties and offenses; requiring gas operations to submit certification from Division of Highways that operator has entered into road maintenance agreement pursuant to Division of Highways Oil and Gas Road Policy; creating public website and electronic notification registry of horizontal well permit applications and public notice of website; providing for air quality study, report to Legislature and rule making; requiring secretary to report to Legislature regarding safety of pits and impoundments; providing casing and cement standards; authorizing secretary to promulgate legislative and emergency rules relating to casing and cement standards; authorizing secretary to promulgate legislative rules governing pits and impoundments; providing secretary authority to establish, revise and grant waivers regarding casing and cement standards and programs; creating the oil and gas horizontal well production damage compensation act; providing legislative findings and purpose; defining terms; providing conditions and parameters for compensation of surface owners for drilling operations; preserving common law right of action and providing offset for compensation or damages paid; requiring notice of claims by surface owners; providing manner in which oil and gas operator must provide notice of reclamation; providing for offers of settlement; providing procedures for civil actions, arbitration and fees; preserving alternate remedies; and modifying definitions of shallow wells and deep wells.
ARTICLE 2B. WEST VIRGINIA WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT.
(3) The state needs to take all necessary steps to retain, educate and train West Virginians to have the skills necessary to compete for job opportunities resulting from horizontal drilling.
(6) The council’s recommendations for the establishment of an overall workforce investment public education agenda with goals and benchmarks toward maximizing job creation opportunities in the State of West Virginia.
(c) To the extent permitted by federal law, and to the extent necessary for the council to comply with this section, the Council, Workforce West Virginia, the Division of Labor, and the Office of the Insurance Commissioner may enter into agreements providing for the sharing of job data and related information.
(f) "Director" means the director of the division Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection as established in article one of this chapter or such other person to whom the director secretary has delegated authority or duties pursuant to sections six or eight, article one of this chapter.
(w) (z) "Well operator" or "operator" means any person or persons, firm, partnership, partnership association or corporation that proposes to or does locate, drill, operate or abandon any well as herein defined.
(y) "Waters of this state" shall have the same meaning as the term "waters" as provided in subsection (23), section three, article eleven, chapter twenty-two of this code.
§22-6-2. Secretary -- Powers and duties generally; department records open to public; inspectors.
(a) The secretary shall have as his or her duty the supervision of the execution and enforcement of matters related to oil and gas set out in this article and in articles six-a, eight, and nine, ten and twenty-one of this chapter.
(b) The secretary is authorized to propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code necessary to effectuate the above stated purposes.
(10) Collect a permit fee of $400 for each permit application filed other than an application for a deep well, horizontal wells regulated pursuant to article six-a of this chapter, or a coalbed methane well; and collect a permit fee of $650 for each permit application filed for a deep well: Provided, That no permit application fee shall be is required when an application is submitted solely for the plugging or replugging of a well, or to modify an existing application for which the operator previously has submitted a permit fee under this section. All application fees required hereunder shall be are in lieu of and not in addition to any fees imposed under article eleven of this chapter relating to discharges of stormwater but shall be are in addition to any other fees required by the provisions of this article: Provided, however, That upon a final determination by the United States Environmental Protection Agency regarding the scope of the exemption under section 402(l)(2) of the federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1342(l)(2)), which determination requires a “national pollutant discharge elimination system” permit for stormwater discharges from the oil and gas operations described therein, any permit fees for stormwater permits required under article eleven of this chapter for such operations shall may not exceed $100.
(14) Perform such acts as may be necessary or appropriate to secure to this state the benefits of federal legislation establishing programs relating to the exploration, development, production, storage and recovery of this state's oil and gas, which programs are assumable by the state.
(d) The secretary shall have authority to visit and inspect any well or well site and any other oil or gas facility in this state and may call for the assistance of any oil and gas inspector or inspectors or supervising inspector whenever such assistance is necessary in the inspection of any such well or well site or any other oil or gas facility. Similarly, all oil and gas inspectors and the supervising inspector or supervising inspectors shall have authority to visit and inspect any well or well site and any other oil or gas facility in this state. Such inspectors shall make all necessary inspections of oil and gas operations required by this article and articles six-a, eight, nine, ten and twenty-one of this chapter; administer and enforce all oil and gas laws and rules; and perform other duties and services as may be prescribed by the secretary. The inspectors shall note and describe all violations of this article and articles six-a, eight, nine, ten or twenty-one of this chapter and promptly report those violations to the secretary in writing, furnishing at the same time a copy of the report to the operator concerned. Any well operator, coal operator operating coal seams beneath the tract of land, or the coal seam owner or lessee, if any, if said owner or lessee is not yet operating said coal seams beneath said tract of land may request the secretary to have an immediate inspection made. The operator or owner of every well or well site or any other oil or gas facility shall cooperate with the secretary, all oil and gas inspectors and the supervising inspector in making inspections or obtaining information.
(e) Oil and gas inspectors shall devote their full time and undivided attention to the performance of their duties, and they shall be responsible for the inspection of all wells or well sites or other oil or gas facilities in their respective districts as often as may be required in the performance of their duties.
(f) (e) Subject to the provisions of article one, chapter twenty-nine-b of this code, all records of the office shall be open to the public.
§22-6-2a. Oil and gas inspectors qualifications and salary.
(a) No person is eligible for appointment as an oil and gas inspector or supervising inspector unless, at the time of probationary appointment, the person: (1) is a citizen of West Virginia, in good health and of good character, reputation and temperate habits; (2) has had at least two years actual relevant experience in the oil and gas industry: Provided, That no more than one year of the experience requirement may be satisfied by any of following: (i) A bachelor of science degree in science or engineering; (ii) an associate degree in petroleum technology; or (iii) actual relevant environmental experience including, without limitation, experience in wastewater, solid waste or reclamation, each full year of which shall be considered as a year of actual relevant experience in the oil and gas industry; and (3) has good theoretical and practical knowledge of oil and gas drilling and production methods, practices and techniques, sound safety practices and applicable water and mining laws.
(b) In order to qualify for appointment as an oil and gas inspector or supervising inspector by the secretary, an eligible applicant shall submit to a written and oral examination by the Division of Personnel within the Department of Administration and shall furnish any evidence of good health, character and other facts establishing eligibility required by the Division of Personnel. The Office of Oil and Gas shall determine the substance of the examinations administered to candidates for the positions of oil and gas inspector and supervising oil and gas inspector by the Division of Personnel. If the Division of Personnel finds after investigation and examination that an applicant: (1) is eligible for appointment; and (2) has passed all written and oral examinations, the division shall add the applicant's name and grade to the register of qualified eligible candidates and certify its action to the secretary. No candidate's name may remain on the register for more than three years without requalifying.
(c) Every supervising oil and gas inspector shall be paid not less than $40,000 per year. Every oil and gas inspector shall be paid not less than $35,000 per year.
This article shall be known and cited as the “Horizontal Well Act”.
§22-6A-2. Legislative findings; declaration of public policy.
(8) Allowing the responsible development of our state’s natural gas resources will enhance the economy of our state and the quality of life for our citizens while assuring the long term protection of the environment.
(b) The Legislature declares that the establishment of a new regulatory scheme to address new and advanced natural gas development technologies and drilling practices is in the public interest and should be done in a manner that protects the environment and our economy for current and future generations.
(c) The Legislature declares that in view of the urgent need for prompt decision of matters submitted to the secretary under this article, all actions which the secretary or oil and gas inspectors are required to take under this article shall be taken as rapidly as practicable, consistent with adequate consideration of the issues involved.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, the provisions of this article shall apply to any natural gas well, other than a coalbed methane well, drilled using a horizontal drilling method, and which disturbs three acres or more of surface, excluding pipelines, gathering lines and roads, or utilizes more than two hundred ten thousand gallons of water in any thirty day period: Provided, That this article do not apply to or affect any well work permitted for a horizontal well or orders issued regarding horizontal wells prior to the effective date of this article.
(a) Because drilling horizontal wells in naturally occurring karst terrain may require precautions not necessary in other parts of the state, the secretary may require additional safeguards to protect this geological formation. When drilling horizontal wells in naturally occurring karst terrain, such additional safeguards may include changing proposed well locations to avoid damage to water resources, special casing programs, and additional or special review of drilling procedures.
(2) Provide any other requirements deemed necessary by the secretary to protect the unique characteristics of naturally occurring karst geology, which requirements may include baseline water testing within an established distance from a drilling site.
(c) Nothing in this section allows the department to prevent drilling in naturally occurring karst geology.
(a) All definitions set forth in article six of this chapter apply when those defined terms are used in this article, unless the context in which the term is used clearly requires a different meaning.
(12) “Water purveyor” means any person engaged in the business of selling water to another and who is regulated by the Bureau for Public Health pursuant to title sixty-four, series three of the W. Va. Code of State Rules.
§22-6A-5. Application of article six of this chapter to horizontal wells subject to this article.
(1) The provisions of section three, article six of this chapter relating to the findings and orders of inspectors concerning violations, the determination of reasonable time for abatement, extensions of time for abatement, special inspections and notice of findings and orders.
(2) The provisions of section four, article six of this chapter providing for the review of findings and orders by the secretary, special inspections and applications for annulment or revision of orders by the secretary.
(3) The provisions of section five, article six of this chapter relating to the requirements for findings, orders and notices, notice to the operator of findings and orders and judicial review of final orders of the secretary.
(4) The provisions of section seven, article six of this chapter relating to the issuance of water pollution control permits, the powers and duties of the secretary related thereto and penalties for violations of the same.
(5) The provisions of section eight, article six of this chapter relating to the prohibition of permits for wells on flat well royalty leases and requirements for permits.
(A) Under subsection (a), section twelve, article six of this chapter, the plat also shall identify all surface tract boundaries within the scope of the plat proposed to be crossed by the horizontal lateral of the horizontal well and the proposed path of such horizontal lateral.
(B) Under subsection (b), section twelve, article six of this chapter, any reference to a time period shall be thirty days in lieu of fifteen days.
(7) The provisions of section thirteen, article six of this chapter providing for notice of the operator’s intention to fracture wells, with the exception that under the third paragraph of section thirteen, article six of this chapter, the applicable periods shall be thirty days in lieu of fifteen days.
(8) The provisions of section fifteen, article six of this chapter pertaining to objections to proposed deep well drilling sites above seam or seams of coal, with the exception that the applicable time for filing objections is within thirty days of receipt by the secretary of the required plat and/or notice in lieu of fifteen days.
(9) The provisions of section seventeen, article six of this chapter pertaining to drilling of shallow gas wells, notice to be provided to the chair of the review board, orders issued by the review board and permits issued for such drilling, with the exception that the applicable time for filing objections is thirty days from the date of receipt by the secretary of the required plat and notice in lieu of fifteen days.
(10) The provisions of section eighteen, article six of this chapter providing for protective devices for when a well penetrates one or more workable coal beds and when gas is found beneath or between workable coal beds.
(11) The provisions of section nineteen, article six of this chapter providing for protective devices during the life of the well and for dry or abandoned wells.
(12) The provisions of section twenty, article six of this chapter providing for protective devices when a well is drilled through the horizon of a coalbed from which the coal has been removed.
(13) The provisions of section twenty-one, article six of this chapter requiring the installation of fresh water casings.
(14) The provisions of section twenty-two, article six of this chapter relating to the filing of a well completion log and the contents thereof, confidentiality and permitted use and the secretary’s authority to promulgate rules.
(15) The provisions of section twenty-seven, article six of this chapter regarding a cause of action for damages caused by an explosion.
(16) The provisions of section twenty-eight, article six of this chapter relating to supervision by the secretary over drilling and reclamation operations, the filing of complaints, hearings on the same and appeals.
(17) The provisions of section twenty-nine, article six of this chapter providing for the Operating Permit and Processing Fund, the oil and gas reclamation fund and associated fees, with the exception that in the first paragraph of subsection (a), section twenty-nine, article six of this chapter, the fees to be credited to the Oil and Gas Operating Permit and Processing Fund are the permit fees collected pursuant to section seven of this article.
(18) The provisions of section thirty-one, article six of this chapter providing for preventing waste of gas, plans of operation for wasting gas in the process of producing oil and the secretary’s rejection thereof.
(19) The provisions of section thirty-two, article six of this chapter pertaining to the right of an adjacent owner or operator to prevent waste of gas and the recovery of costs.
(20) The provisions of section thirty-three, article six of this chapter relating to circuit court actions to restrain waste.
(21) The provisions of section thirty-six, article six of this chapter providing for the declaration of oil and gas notice by owners and lessees of coal seams and setting out the form of such notice.
(22) The provisions of section thirty-nine, article six of this chapter relating to petitions for injunctive relief.
(23) The provisions of section forty, article six of this chapter relating to appeals from orders issuing or refusing to issue a permit to drill or fracture, and the procedure therefore.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, no provision of article six of this chapter shall apply to horizontal wells subject to this article except as expressly incorporated by reference in this article. Any conflict between the provisions of article six and the provisions of this article shall be resolved in favor of this article.
§22-6A-6. Secretary of Department of Environmental Protection; powers and duties.
(6) Except for the duties and obligations conferred by statute upon the shallow gas well review board pursuant to article eight, chapter twenty-two-c of this code, the coalbed methane review board pursuant to article twenty-one of this chapter, and the oil and gas conservation commission pursuant to article nine, chapter twenty-two-c of this code, the secretary has sole and exclusive authority to regulate the permitting, location, spacing, drilling, fracturing, stimulation, well completion activities, operation, any and all other drilling and production processes, plugging and reclamation of oil and gas wells and production operations within the state.
Furthermore, the secretary shall, on a monthly basis, make a written report to the Governor disclosing, for all well work permits issued in a particular month, the average number of days elapsed between the date on which a complete application for a well work permit was filed and the date on which such well work permit was issued. This report shall be posted to the website required to be established and maintained pursuant to section twenty-one of this article.
§22-6A-7. Horizontal well permit required; permit fee; application; soil erosion control plan; well site safety plan; site construction plan; water management plan; permit fee; installation of permit number; suspension of a permit.
(a) It is unlawful for any person to commence any well work, including site preparation work which involves any disturbance of land, for a horizontal well without first securing from the secretary a well work permit pursuant to this article.
(15) Any other relevant information which the secretary may reasonably require.
(c)(1) An erosion and sediment control plan shall accompany each application for a well work permit under this article. The plan shall contain methods of stabilization and drainage, including a map of the project area indicating the amount of acreage disturbed. The erosion and sediment control plan shall meet the minimum requirements of the West Virginia Erosion and Sediment Control Manual as adopted and from time to time amended by the department. The erosion and sediment control plan shall become part of the terms and conditions of any well work permit that is issued pursuant to this article and the provisions of the plan shall be carried out where applicable in the operation. The erosion and sediment control plan shall set out the proposed method of reclamation which shall comply with the requirements of section fourteen of this article.
(2) For well sites that disturb three acres or more of surface, excluding pipelines, gathering lines and roads, the erosion and sediment control plan submitted in accordance with this section shall be certified by a registered professional engineer.
(d) For well sites that disturb three acres or more of surface, excluding pipelines, gathering lines and roads, the operator shall submit a site construction plan that shall be certified by a registered professional engineer and contains information that the secretary may require by rule.
(7) This subsection is intended to be consistent with and does not supersede, revise, repeal or otherwise modify articles eleven, twelve or twenty-six of this chapter and does not revise, repeal or otherwise modify the common law doctrine of riparian rights in West Virginia law.
(f) An application may propose and a permit may approve two or more activities defined as well work, however, a separate permit shall be obtained for each horizontal well drilled.
(g) The application for a permit under this section shall be accompanied by the applicable bond as required by section fifteen of this article, the applicable plat required by subsection (f), section five of this article and a permit fee of $10,000 for the initial horizontal well drilled at a location and a permit fee of $5,000 for each additional horizontal well drilled on a single well pad at the same location.
(h) The well operator named in the application shall designate the name and address of an agent for the operator who is the attorney-in-fact for the operator and who is a resident of the State of West Virginia upon whom notices, orders or other communications issued pursuant to this article or article eleven of this chapter may be served, and upon whom process may be served. Every well operator required to designate an agent under this section shall, within five days after the termination of the designation, notify the secretary of the termination and designate a new agent.
(i) The well owner or operator shall install the permit number as issued by the secretary and a contact telephone number for the operator in a legible and permanent manner to the well upon completion of any permitted work. The dimensions, specifications, and manner of installation shall be in accordance with the rules of the secretary.
(j) The secretary may waive the requirements of this section and sections eight, ten, eleven and twenty-four of this article in any emergency situation, if the secretary deems the action necessary. In such case the secretary may issue an emergency permit which is effective for not more than thirty days, unless reissued by the secretary.
(k) The secretary shall deny the issuance of a permit if the secretary determines that the applicant has committed a substantial violation of a previously issued permit for a horizontal well, including the applicable erosion and sediment control plan associated with the previously issued permit, or a substantial violation of one or more of the rules promulgated under this article, and in each instance has failed to abate or seek review of the violation within the time prescribed by the secretary pursuant to the provisions of subsections (a) and (b), section five of this article and the rules promulgated hereunder, which time may not be unreasonable.
(l) In the event the secretary finds that a substantial violation has occurred and that the operator has failed to abate or seek review of the violation in the time prescribed, the secretary may suspend the permit on which said violation exists, after which suspension the operator shall forthwith cease all well work being conducted under the permit. However, the secretary may reinstate the permit without further notice, at which time the well work may be continued. The secretary shall make written findings of any such suspension and may enforce the same in the circuit courts of this state. The operator may appeal a suspension pursuant to the provisions of subsection (w), section five of this article. The secretary shall make a written finding of any such determination.
§22-6A-8. Review of application; issuance of permit; performance standards; copy of permits to county assessor.
(a) The secretary shall review each application for a well work permit and shall determine whether or not a permit is issued.
(b) No permit may be issued less than thirty days after the filing date of the application for any well work except plugging or replugging; and no permit for plugging or replugging may be issued less than five days after the filing date of the application except a permit for plugging or replugging a dry hole: Provided, That if the applicant certifies that all persons entitled to notice of the application under the provisions of subsection (b), section ten of this article have been served in person or by certified mail, return receipt requested, with a copy of the well work application, including the erosion and sediment control plan, if required, and the well plat, and further files written statements of no objection by all such persons, the secretary may issue the well work permit at any time.
(c) Prior to the issuance of any permit, the secretary shall ascertain from the Executive Director of Workforce West Virginia and the Insurance Commissioner whether the applicant is in default pursuant to the provisions of section six-c, article two, chapter twenty-one-a of this code, and in compliance with section five, article two, chapter twenty-three of this code, with regard to any required subscription to the Unemployment Compensation Fund or to the Workers' Compensation Fund, the payment of premiums and other charges to the fund, the timely filing of payroll reports and the maintenance of adequate deposits. If the applicant is delinquent or defaulted, or has been terminated by the executive director or the Insurance Commissioner, the permit may not be issued until the applicant returns to compliance or is restored by the executive director or the Insurance Commissioner under a reinstatement agreement: Provided, That in all inquiries the Executive Director of Workforce West Virginia and the Insurance Commissioner shall make response to the Department of Environmental Protection within fifteen calendar days; otherwise, failure to respond timely is considered to indicate the applicant is in compliance and the failure will not be used to preclude issuance of the permit.
(4) The proposed well work fails to protect fresh water sources or supplies.
(2) The water management plan submitted to the secretary, if required by subdivision (e), section seven of this article, has been received and approved.
(f) The secretary shall promptly review all written comments filed by persons entitled to notice pursuant to subsection (b), section ten of this article. If after review of the application and all written comments received from persons entitled to notice pursuant to subsection (b), section ten of this article, the application for a well work permit is approved, and no timely objection has been filed with the secretary by the coal operator operating coal seams beneath the tract of land, or the coal seam owner or lessee, if any, if said owner or lessee is not yet operating said coal seams, or made by the secretary under the provisions of section ten and eleven of this article, the permit shall be issued, with conditions, if any. This section does not supersede the provisions of section seven or subsections (f) through (i), section five of this article.
(5) Protect the quantity and the quality of water in surface and groundwater systems both during and after drilling operations and during reclamation by: (A) Withdrawing water from surface waters of the state by methods deemed appropriate by the secretary, so as to maintain sufficient in-steam flow immediately downstream of the withdrawal location. In no case shall an operator withdraw water from ground or surface waters at volumes beyond which the waters can sustain; (B) Casing, sealing or otherwise managing wells to keep returned fluids from entering ground and surface waters; (C) Conducting oil and gas operations so as to prevent, to the extent possible using the best management practices, additional contributions of suspended or dissolved solids to streamflow or runoff outside the permit area, but in no event shall the contributions be in excess of requirements set by applicable state or federal law; and (D) Registering all water supply wells drilled and operated by the operator with the Office of Oil and Gas. All drinking water wells within one thousand five hundred feet of a water supply well shall be flow and quality tested by the operator upon request of the drinking well owner prior to operating the water supply well. The secretary shall propose legislative rules to identify appropriate methods for testing water flow and quality.
(A) Identification of water withdrawal locations. Within forty-eight hours prior to the withdrawal of water, the operator shall identify to the department the location of withdrawal by latitude and longitude and verify that sufficient flow exists to protect designated uses of the stream. The operator shall use methods deemed appropriate by the secretary to determine if sufficient flow exists to protect designated uses of the stream.
(B) Signage for water withdrawal locations. All water withdrawal locations and facilities identified in the water management plan shall be identified with a sign that identifies that the location is a water withdrawal point, the name and telephone number of the operator and the permit numbers(s) for which the water withdrawn will be utilized.
(III) The method of management or disposal of the flowback and produced water.
(III) The name of the water hauling company.
(iii) The information maintained pursuant to this subdivision shall be available for inspection by the department along with other required permits and records and maintained for three years after the water withdrawal activity.
(iv) This subdivision is intended to be consistent with and does not supersede, revise, repeal or otherwise modify articles eleven, twelve or twenty-six of this chapter and does not revise, repeal or otherwise modify the common law doctrine of riparian rights in West Virginia law.
(h) The secretary shall mail a copy of the permit as issued or a copy of the order denying a permit to any person entitled to submit written comments pursuant to subsection (a), section eleven of this article and who requested a copy.
(i) Upon the issuance of any permit pursuant to the provisions of this article, the secretary shall transmit a copy of the permit to the office of the assessor for the county in which the well is located.
§22-6A-9. Certificate of approval required for large pits or impoundment construction; certificate of approval and annual registration fees; application required to obtain certificate; term of certificate; revocation or suspension of certificates; appeals; farm ponds.
(a) The Legislature finds that large impoundments and pits (i.e. impoundments or pits with a capacity of two hundred ten thousand gallons or more) not associated with a specific well work permit must be properly regulated and controlled. It is the intent of the Legislature by this section to provide for the regulation and supervision of large impoundments or pits not associated with a well work permit. This section does not apply to large pits or impoundments authorized under a well work permit.
(b) It is unlawful for any person to place, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, remove or abandon any freshwater impoundment or pit with capacity of two hundred ten thousand gallons or more used in association with any horizontal well operation until he or she has first secured from the secretary a certificate of approval for the same: Provided, That routine repairs that do not affect the safety of the impoundment are not subject to the application and approval requirements. A separate application for a certificate of approval shall be submitted by a person for each impoundment he or she desires to place, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, remove or abandon, but one application may be valid for more than one impoundment that supports one or more well pads.
(c) The application fee for placement, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair or removal of an impoundment pursuant to this section is $300, and the fee shall accompany the application for certificate of approval. Operators holding certificates of approval shall be assessed an annual registration fee of $100, which is valid for more than one impoundment that supports one or more well pads.
(d) Any certificate of approval required by this section shall be issued or denied no later than sixty days from the submission of an application containing the information required by this section. However, if the application for a certificate of approval is submitted with the application for a horizontal well permit, the certificate shall be issued or denied no later than thirty days from the submission of the permit application.
(e) The initial term of a certificate of approval issued pursuant to this section is one year. Existing certificates of approval shall be extended for one year upon receipt of the annual registration fee, an inspection report, a monitoring and emergency action plan, and a maintenance plan: Provided, That where an approved, up-to-date inspection report, monitoring and emergency action plan, and maintenance plan are on file with the department, and where no outstanding violation of the requirements of the certificate of approval or any plan submitted pursuant to this article related to the impoundment exist, then the certificate of approval shall be extended without resubmission of the foregoing documents upon receipt of the annual registration fee.
(f) Every application for a certificate of approval shall be made in writing on a form prescribed by the secretary and shall be signed and verified by the applicant. The application shall include a monitoring and emergency action plan and a maintenance plan, the required contents of which shall be established by the secretary by legislative rule. The application shall contain and provide information that may reasonably be required by the secretary to administer the provisions of this article.
(g) Plans and specifications for the placement, construction, erosion and sediment control, enlargement, alteration, repair or removal and reclamation of impoundments shall be the charge of a registered professional engineer licensed to practice in West Virginia. Any plans or specifications submitted to the department shall bear the seal of a registered professional engineer.
(h) Each certificate of approval issued by the secretary pursuant to the provisions of this article may contain other terms and conditions the secretary prescribes.
(i) The secretary may revoke or suspend any certificate of approval whenever the secretary determines that the impoundment for which the certificate was issued constitutes an imminent danger to human life or property. If necessary to safeguard human life or property, the secretary may also amend the terms and conditions of any certificate by issuing a new certificate containing the revised terms and conditions.
(1) Before any certificate of approval is amended, suspended or revoked by the secretary without the consent of the operator holding the certificate, the secretary shall hold a hearing in accordance with the provisions of article five, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.
(2) Any person adversely affected by an order entered following this hearing has the right to appeal to the Environmental Quality Board pursuant to the provisions of article one, chapter twenty-two-b of this code.
(j) Upon expiration of the certificate of approval, the operator shall within six months, or upon its revocation by the secretary, the operator shall within sixty days, fill all impoundments that are not required or allowed by state or federal law or rule or agreement between the operator and the surface owner allowing the impoundment to remain open for the use and benefit of the surface owner and reclaim the site in accordance with the approved erosion and sediment control plan.
(A) Farm ponds constructed by the operator with the written consent of the surface owner, which will be used after completion of the drilling activity primarily for agricultural purposes, including without limitation livestock watering, irrigation, retention of animal wastes and fish culture. Any impoundment that is intended to be left permanent as a farm pond under this subdivision shall meet the requirements set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service “Conservation Practice Standard - Ponds” (Code 378).
(B) Farm ponds subject to certificates of approval under article fourteen of this chapter.
(l) The secretary is authorized to propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, necessary to effectuate the provisions of this section.
§22-6A-10. Notice to property owners.
(a) Prior to filing a permit application, the operator shall provide notice of planned entry to the surface owner of at least seventy-two hours but no more than forty-five days prior to entering the surface tract to conduct any plat surveys required pursuant to this article.
(6) The operator of any natural gas storage field within which the proposed well work activity is to take place.
(c) If more than three tenants in common or other coowners of interests described in subsection (b) of this section hold interests in the lands, the applicant may serve the documents required upon the person described in the records of the sheriff required to be maintained pursuant to section eight, article one, chapter eleven-a of this code.
(d) With respect to surface landowners identified in subsection (b) or water purveyors identified in subdivision (5), subsection (b) of this section, notification shall be made on forms and in a manner prescribed by the secretary sufficient to identify, for those persons, the rights afforded them under sections eleven and twelve of this article, and the opportunity for testing their water well.
(e) Semiannually, the department shall publish a Class II legal advertisement, as described in section two, article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code, to appear in newspapers serving, in the aggregate, every county of the state notifying the public of the website required to be maintained by the department pursuant to section twenty-one of this article six-a, and that members of the public may register to receive electronic notifications of horizontal well permit applications, filings and notices by county of interest.
(f) Materials served upon persons described in subsection (b) of this section shall contain a statement of the time limits for filing written comments, who may file written comments, the name and address of the secretary for the purpose of filing the comments and obtaining additional information, and a statement that the persons may request, at the time of submitting written comments, notice of the permit decision and a list of persons qualified to test water.
(g) Any person entitled to submit written comments to the secretary pursuant to subsection (a), section eleven of this article, shall also be entitled to receive from the secretary a copy of the permit as issued or a copy of the order modifying or denying the permit if the person requests receipt of them as a part of the written comments submitted concerning the permit application.
(h) The surface owners described in subdivisions (1), (2) and (4), subsection (b) of this section, and the coal owner, operator or lessee described in subdivision (3) of that subsection is also entitled to receive notice within seven days but no less than two days before commencement that well work or site preparation work that involves any disturbance of land is expected to commence.
(i) Persons entitled to notice pursuant to subsection (b) of this section may contact the department to ascertain the names and locations of water testing laboratories in the subject area capable and qualified to test water supplies in accordance with standard accepted methods. In compiling that list of names the department shall consult with the state Bureau for Public Health and local health departments.
(j) (1) Prior to conducting any seismic activity for seismic exploration for natural gas to be extracted using horizontal drilling methods, the company or person performing the activity shall provide notice to Miss Utility of West Virginia Inc. and to all surface owners, coal owners and lessees, and natural gas storage field operators on whose property blasting, percussion or other seismic-related activities will occur.
(2) The notice shall be provided at least three days prior to commencement of the seismic activity.
(3) The notice shall also include a reclamation plan in accordance with the erosion and sediment control manual that provides for the reclamation of any areas disturbed as a result of the seismic activity, including filling of shotholes used for blasting.
(4) Nothing in this subsection decides questions as to whether seismic activity may be secured by mineral owners, surface owners or other ownership interests.
§22-6A-11. Procedure for filing written comments; procedures for considering objections and comments; issues to be considered; and newspaper notice.
(a) All persons described in subsection (b), section ten of this article may file written comments with the secretary as to the location or construction of the applicant's proposed well work within thirty days after the application is filed with the secretary.
(b) The applicant shall tender proof of and certify to the secretary that the notice requirements of section ten of this article have been completed by the applicant. The certification of notice to the person may be made by affidavit of personal service, the return receipt card or other postal receipt for certified mailing.
(c) (1) The secretary shall promptly review all written comments filed by the persons entitled to notice under subsection (b), section ten of this article. The secretary shall notify the applicant of the character of the written comments submitted no later than fifteen days after the close of the comment period.
(2) Any objections of the affected coal operators and coal seam owners and lessees shall be addressed through the processes and procedures that exist under sections fifteen, seventeen and forty, article six of this chapter, as applicable and as incorporated into this article by section five of this article. The written comments filed by the parties entitled to notice under subdivisions (1), (2), (4), (5) and (6), subsection (b), section ten of this article shall be considered by the secretary in the permit issuance process, but the parties are not entitled to participate in the processes and proceedings that exist under sections fifteen, seventeen or forty, article six of this chapter, as applicable and as incorporated into this article by section five of this article.
(3) The secretary shall retain all applications, plats and other documents filed with the secretary, any proposed revisions thereto, all notices given and proof of service thereof and all orders issued and all permits issued. Subject to the provisions of article one, chapter twenty-nine-b of this code, the record prepared by the secretary is open to inspection by the public.
(a) Wells may not be drilled within two hundred fifty feet measured horizontally from any existing water well or developed spring used for human or domestic animal consumption. The center of well pads may not be located within six hundred twenty-five feet of an occupied dwelling structure, or a building two thousand five hundred square feet or larger used to house or shelter dairy cattle or poultry husbandry. This limitation is applicable to those wells, developed springs, dwellings or agricultural buildings that existed on the date a notice to the surface owner of planned entry for surveying or staking as provided in section ten of this article or a notice of intent to drill a horizontal well as provided in subsection (b), section sixteen of this article was provided, whichever occurs first, and to any dwelling under construction prior to that date. This limitation may be waived by written consent of the surface owner transmitted to the department and recorded in the real property records maintained by the clerk of the county commission for the county in which such property is located. Furthermore, the well operator may be granted a variance by the secretary from these distance restrictions upon submission of a plan which identifies the sufficient measures, facilities or practices to be employed during well site construction, drilling and operations. The variance, if granted, shall include terms and conditions the department requires to ensure the safety and protection of affected persons and property. The terms and conditions may include insurance, bonding and indemnification, as well as technical requirements.
(1) For a surface water intake on a lake or reservoir, the distance shall be measured from the boundary of the lake or reservoir.
(2) For a surface water intake on a flowing stream, the distance shall be measured from a semicircular radius extending upstream of the surface water intake.
(3) For a groundwater source, the distance shall be measured from the wellhead or spring. The department may, in its discretion, waive these distance restrictions upon submission of a plan identifying sufficient measures, facilities or practices to be employed during well site construction, drilling and operations to protect the waters of the state. A waiver, if granted, shall impose any permit conditions as the secretary considers necessary.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, nothing contained in this section prevents an operator from conducting the activities permitted or authorized by a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit or other approval from the United States Army Corps of Engineers within any waters of the state or within the restricted areas referenced in this section.
§22-6A-13. Plugging of horizontal wells.
The secretary shall propose legislative rules for promulgation to govern the procedures for plugging horizontal wells, including rules relating to the methods of plugging the wells and the notices required to be provided in connection with plugging the wells.
(1) Except as provided elsewhere in this article, within six months after a horizontal well is drilled and completed on a well pad designed for a single horizontal well, the operator shall fill all the pits and impoundments that are not required or allowed by state or federal law or rule or agreement between the operator and the surface owner that allows the impoundment to remain open for the use and benefit of the surface owner (i.e. a farm pond as described in section nine of this article) and remove all concrete bases, drilling supplies and drilling equipment: Provided, That impoundments or pits for which certificates have been approved pursuant to section nine of this article shall be reclaimed at a time and in a manner as provided in the applicable certificate and section nine. Within that six-month period, the operator shall grade or terrace and plant, seed or sod the area disturbed that is not required in production of the horizontal well in accordance with the erosion and sediment control plan. No pit may be used for the ultimate disposal of salt water. Salt water and oil shall be periodically drained or removed and properly disposed of from any pit that is retained so the pit is kept reasonably free of salt water and oil. Pits may not be left open permanently.
(2) For well pads designed to contain multiple horizontal wells, partial reclamation shall begin upon completion of the construction of the well pad. For purposes of this section, the term partial reclamation means grading or terracing and planting, or seeding the area disturbed that is not required in drilling, completing or producing any of the horizontal wells on the well pad in accordance with the erosion and sediment control plan. This partial reclamation satisfies the reclamation requirements of this section for a maximum of twenty-four months between the drilling of horizontal wells on a well pad designed to contain multiple horizontal wells: Provided, That the maximum aggregate period in which partial reclamation satisfies the reclamation requirements of this section is five years from completion of the construction of the well pad. Within six months after the completion of the final horizontal well on the pad or the expiration of the five-year maximum aggregate partial reclamation period, whichever occurs first, the operator shall complete final reclamation of the well pad as set forth in this subsection.
(3) Within six months after a horizontal well that has produced oil or gas is plugged or after the plugging of a dry hole, the operator shall remove all production and storage structures, supplies and equipment and any oil, salt water and debris and fill any remaining excavations. Within that six-month period, the operator shall grade or terrace and plant, seed or sod the area disturbed where necessary to bind the soil and prevent substantial erosion and sedimentation.
(4) The operator shall reclaim the area of land disturbed in siting, drilling, completing or producing the horizontal well in accordance with the erosion and sediment control plans approved by the secretary or the secretary’s designee pursuant to this article.
(b) The secretary, upon written application by an operator showing reasonable cause, may extend the period within which reclamation must be completed, but not to exceed a further six-month period. If the secretary refuses to approve a request for extension, the refusal shall be by order, which may be appealed pursuant to the provisions of subsection (v), section five of this article.
§22-6A-15. Performance bonds; corporate surety or other security.
(a) No permit may be issued pursuant to this article unless a bond as described in subsection (d) of this section which is required for a particular activity by this article is or has been furnished as provided in this section.
(b) A separate bond as described in subsection (d) of this section may be furnished for each horizontal well drilled. Each of these bonds shall be in the sum of $50,000 payable to the State of West Virginia, conditioned on full compliance with all laws, rules relating to the drilling, redrilling, deepening, casing and stimulating of horizontal wells and to the plugging, abandonment and reclamation of horizontal wells and for furnishing reports and information required by the secretary.
(c) When an operator makes or has made application for permits to drill or stimulate a number of horizontal wells, the operator may, in lieu of furnishing a separate bond, furnish a blanket bond in the sum of $250,000 payable to the State of West Virginia, and conditioned as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
(d) The form of the bond required by this article shall be approved by the secretary and may include, at the option of the operator, surety bonding, collateral bonding, including cash and securities, letters of credit, establishment of an escrow account, self-bonding or a combination of these methods. If collateral bonding is used, the operator may elect to deposit cash, or collateral securities or certificates as follows: Bonds of the United States or its possessions, of the federal land bank, or of the homeowners' loan corporation; full faith and credit general obligation bonds of the State of West Virginia or other states or of any county, district or municipality of the State of West Virginia or other states; or certificates of deposit in a bank in this state, which certificates shall be in favor of the department. The cash deposit or market value of the securities or certificates shall be equal to or greater than the amount of the bond. The secretary shall, upon receipt of any deposit of cash, securities or certificates, promptly place the same with the Treasurer of the State of West Virginia whose duty it is to receive and hold them in the name of the state in trust for the purpose of which the deposit is made when the permit is issued. The operator is entitled to all interest and income earned on the collateral securities filed by the operator. The operator making the deposit is entitled from time to time to receive from the State Treasurer, upon the written approval of the secretary, the whole or any portion of any cash, securities or certificates so deposited, upon depositing with the State Treasurer in lieu thereof, cash or other securities or certificates of the classes herein specified having value equal to or greater than the amount of the bond.
(e) When an operator has furnished a separate bond from a corporate bonding or surety company to drill, fracture or stimulate a horizontal well and the well produces oil or gas or both, its operator may deposit with the secretary cash from the sale of the oil or gas or both until the total deposited is $50,000. When the sum of the cash deposited is $50,000, the separate bond for the well shall be released by the secretary. Upon receipt of that cash, the secretary shall immediately deliver that amount to the State Treasurer, who shall hold the cash in the name of the state in trust for the purpose for which the bond was furnished and the deposit was made. The operator is entitled to all interest and income which may be earned on the cash deposited so long as the operator is in full compliance with all laws and rules relating to the drilling, redrilling, deepening, casing, plugging, abandonment and reclamation of the well for which the cash was deposited and so long as the operator has furnished all reports and information required by the secretary. The secretary may establish procedures under which an operator may substitute a new bond for an existing bond or provide a new bond under certain circumstances specified in a legislative rule promulgated in accordance with chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.
(f) Any separate bond furnished for a particular well prior to the effective date of this article continues to be valid for all work on the well permitted prior to the effective date of this article; but no permit may be issued on such a particular well without a bond complying with the provisions of this section. Any blanket bond furnished prior to the effective date of this article shall be replaced with a new blanket bond conforming to the requirements of this section, at which time the prior bond is discharged by operation of law; and if the secretary determines that any operator has not furnished a new blanket bond, the secretary shall notify the operator by registered mail or by any method of delivery that requires a receipt or signature confirmation of the requirement for a new blanket bond, and failure to submit a new blanket bond within sixty days after receipt of the notice from the secretary works a forfeiture under subsection (i) of this section of the blanket bond furnished prior to the effective date of this article.
(g) Any such bond shall remain in force until released by the secretary, and the secretary shall release the same upon satisfaction that the conditions thereof have been fully performed. Upon the release of that bond, any cash or collateral securities deposited shall be returned by the secretary to the operator who deposited it.
(h) (1) Whenever the right to operate a well is assigned or otherwise transferred, the assignor or transferor shall notify the department of the name and address of the assignee or transferee by registered mail or by any method of delivery that requires a receipt or signature confirmation not later than thirty days after the date of the assignment or transfer. No assignment or transfer by the owner relieves the assignor or transferor of the obligations and liabilities unless and until the assignee or transferee files with the department the well name and the permit number of the subject well, the county and district in which the subject well is located, the names and addresses of the assignor or transferor, and assignee or transferee, a copy of the instrument of assignment or transfer accompanied by the applicable bond, cash, collateral security or other forms of security described in this section, and the name and address of the assignee's or transferee's designated agent if the assignee or transferee would be required to designate an agent under this article if the assignee or transferee were an applicant for a permit under this article. Every well operator required to designate an agent under this section shall, within five days after the termination of the designation, notify the department of the termination and designate a new agent.
(2) Upon compliance with the requirements of this section by the assignor or transferor and assignee or transferee, the secretary shall release the assignor or transferor from all duties and requirements of this article and shall give written notice of release to the assignor or transferor of any bond and return to the assignor or transferor any cash or collateral securities deposited pursuant to this section.
(i) If any of the requirements of this article or rules promulgated pursuant thereto or the orders of the secretary has not been complied with within the time limit set by any notice of violation issued pursuant to this article, the performance bond shall then be forfeited.
(j) When any bond is forfeited pursuant to the provisions of this article or rules promulgated pursuant thereto, the secretary shall collect the forfeiture without delay.
(k) All forfeitures shall be deposited in the Treasury of the State of West Virginia in the Oil and Gas Reclamation Fund as defined in section twenty-nine, article six of this chapter.
§22-6A-16. Compensation of surface owners for drilling operations.
(a) The provisions of article seven of this chapter do not apply to horizontal wells governed by this article. In lieu thereof, the provisions of article six-b of this chapter shall provide for the compensation of surface owners for damage caused by drilling horizontal wells.
(b) At least ten days prior to filing a permit application, an operator shall, by certified mail return receipt requested or hand delivery, give the surface owner notice of its intent to enter upon the surface owner’s land for the purpose of drilling a horizontal well: Provided, That notice given pursuant to subsection (a), section ten of this article satisfies the requirements of this subsection as of the date the notice was provided to the surface owner: Provided, however, That the notice requirements of this subsection may be waived in writing by the surface owner. The notice, if required, shall include the name, address, telephone number, and if available, facsimile number and electronic mail address of the operator and the operator’s authorized representative.
(3) A proposed surface use and compensation agreement containing an offer of compensation for damages to the surface affected by oil and gas operations to the extent the damages are compensable under article six-b of this chapter.
(d) The notices required by this section shall be given to the surface owner at the address listed in the records of the sheriff at the time of notice.
§22-6A-17. Reimbursement of property taxes of encumbered properties.
In addition to any compensation owed by the operator to the surface owner pursuant to the provisions of article six-b of this chapter, the operator shall pay the surface owner a one-time payment of $2,500 to compensate for payment of real property taxes for surface lands and surrounding lands that are encumbered or disturbed by construction or operation of the horizontal well pad regardless of how many wells are drilled on a single pad or how many permits are issued for the pad.
§22-6A-18. Civil action for contamination or deprivation of fresh water source or supply; presumption; water rights and replacement; waiver of replacement.
(a) Nothing in this article affects in any way the rights of any person to enforce or protect, under applicable law, the person's interest in water resources affected by an oil or gas operation.
(b) Unless rebutted by one of the defenses established in subsection (c) of this section, in any action for contamination or deprivation of a fresh water source or supply within one thousand five hundred feet of the center of the well pad for horizontal well, there is a rebuttable presumption that the drilling and the oil or gas well or either was the proximate cause of the contamination or deprivation of the fresh water source or supply.
(1) The pollution existed prior to the drilling or alteration activity as determined by a predrilling or prealteration water well test.
(2) The landowner or water purveyor refused to allow the operator access to the property to conduct a predrilling or prealteration water well test.
(3) The water supply is not within one thousand five hundred feet of the well.
(4) The pollution occurred more than six months after completion of drilling or alteration activities.
(5) The pollution occurred as the result of some cause other than the drilling or alteration activity.
(d) Any operator electing to preserve its defenses under subdivision (1), subsection (c) of this section shall retain the services of an independent certified laboratory to conduct the predrilling or prealteration water well test. A copy of the results of the test shall be submitted to the department and the surface owner or water purveyor in a manner prescribed by the secretary.
(e) Any operator shall replace the water supply of an owner of interest in real property who obtains all or part of that owner's supply of water for domestic, agricultural, industrial or other legitimate use from an underground or surface source with a comparable water supply where the secretary determines that the water supply has been affected by contamination, diminution or interruption proximately caused by the oil or gas operation, unless waived in writing by that owner.
(4) Pay all reasonable costs incurred by the real property owner in securing a water supply.
(g) A person as described in subsection (b) of this section aggrieved under the provisions of subsections (b), (e) or (f) of this section may seek relief in court.
(h) The secretary shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to implement the requirements of this section.
(i) Notwithstanding the denial of the operator of responsibility for the damage to the real property owner’s water supply or the status of any appeal on determination of liability for the damage to the real property owner’s water supply, the operator may not discontinue providing the required water service until authorized to do so by the secretary or a court of competent jurisdiction.
(a) Any person or persons, firm, partnership, partnership association or corporation who willfully violates any provision of this article or any rule or order promulgated under this article or any permit issued pursuant to this article is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $5,000. Each day a violation continues after notice by the department constitutes a separate offense. The penalty shall be recovered by a civil action brought by the department, in the name of the state, before the circuit court of the county in which the subject well or facility is located. All the civil penalties collected shall be credited to the General Fund of the state.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, any person or persons, firm, partnership, partnership association or corporation who willfully disposes of waste fluids, drill cuttings or any other liquid substance generated in the development of a horizontal well in violation of this article or any rule or order promulgated under this article or in violation of any other state or federal statutes, rules or regulations, and which disposal was found to have had a significant adverse environmental impact on surface or groundwater by the secretary, is subject to a civil penalty not exceeding $100,000. The penalty shall be recovered by a civil action brought by the department, in the name of the state, before the circuit court of the county in which the subject well or facility is located. All the civil penalties collected shall be credited to the General Fund of the state.
(c) Any person who intentionally misrepresents any material fact in an application, record, report, plan or other document filed or required to be maintained under the provisions of this article or any rules promulgated by the secretary under this article shall be fined not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000.
§22-6A-20. Division of Highways certification.
As part of the permit application for horizontal wells, the operator shall submit a letter of certification from the Division of Highways that the operator has, pursuant to the Division of Highways Oil and Gas Road Policy, entered into an agreement with the Division of Highways pertaining to the state local service roads associated with the proposed well work set forth in the permit application or has certified that no such agreement is required by the Oil and Gas Road Policy and the reasons therefor.
§22-6A-21. Establishment of public website information and electronic notification registry regarding horizontal well permit applications.
(a) No later than ninety days after the effective date of this article, the secretary shall establish resources on the department’s public website which will list searchable information related to all horizontal well applications filed in this state, including information sufficient to identify the county and approximate location of each horizontal well for which a permit application is filed, the referenced well application number, date of application and name of the applicant.
(b) The secretary shall also establish a registration and e-notification process by which individuals, corporations and agencies may register to receive electronic notice of horizontal well applications filings and notices, by county of interest. Once established, individuals, agencies and corporations interested who are properly registered to receive e-notices of filings and actions on horizontal well permits shall receive electronic notifications of applications and notices of permits issued for horizontal drilling in their designated county or counties of interest.
§22-6A-22. Air quality study and rulemaking.
§22-6A-23. Impoundment and pit safety study; rulemaking.
§22-6A-24. Casing and cement standards.
(a) The operator may only drill through fresh groundwater zones in a manner that will minimize any disturbance of the zones. Further, the operator shall construct the well and conduct casing and cementing activities for all horizontal wells in a manner that will provide for control of the well at all times, prevent the migration of gas and other fluids into the fresh groundwater and coal seams, and prevent pollution of or diminution of fresh groundwater.
(b) The secretary shall propose legislative and emergency rules in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to carry out the purposes of this section.
(5) Appropriate disposition of brines and discharges from the drilling or operation of horizontal well.
(1) The operator shall prepare a casing program demonstrating how the horizontal well is to be drilled, cased, and cemented. The program shall comply with rules promulgated by the secretary.
(G) Any alternative methods or materials required by the secretary as a condition of the well work permit.
(3) A copy of casing program shall be kept at the well site.
(4) Supervisory oil and gas inspectors and oil and gas inspectors may approve revisions to previously approved casing programs when conditions encountered during the drilling process so require: Provided, That any revisions to casing programs approved by inspectors as aforesaid shall ensure that the revised casing programs are at least as protective of the environment as the casing and cementing standards required by this section. Any revisions to the casing program made as a result of on-site modifications shall be documented in the program by the inspector approving the modification. The person making any revisions to the program shall initial and date the revisions and make the revised program available for inspection by the department.
(6) Any other procedure or requirements considered necessary by the secretary.
(1) All casing installed in the well, whether new or used, shall have a pressure rating that exceeds the anticipated maximum pressure to which the casing will be exposed and meet appropriate nationally recognized standards.
(2) The casing shall be of sufficient quality and condition to withstand the effects of tension and maintain its structural integrity during installation, cementing, and subsequent drilling and production operations.
(3) Centralizers shall be used, with the proper spacing for such well, during the casing installation to ensure that the casing is centered in the hole.
(4) Casing may not be disturbed for a period of at least eight hours after the completion of cementing operations.
(5) No gas or oil production or pressure may exist on the surface casing or the coal protection casing.
(1) All cement used in the well must meet the appropriate nationally recognized standards and must secure the casing to the wellbore, isolate the wellbore from all fluids, contain all pressures during all phases of drilling and operation of the well, and protect the casing from corrosion and degradation.
(2) Cement used in conjunction with surface and coal protection casing must provide zonal isolation in the casing annulus.
(2) Approve alternative casing programs submitted with applications for well work permits so long as the secretary determines that the casing program submitted with the application is at least as protective of the environment as the casing and cementing standards required by this section.
§22-6B-1. Legislative findings and purpose; applicability.
(1) Exploration for and development of oil and gas reserves in this state must coexist with the use, agricultural or otherwise, of the surface of certain land.
(2) The surface owner of lands on which horizontal wells are drilled shall be compensated for damages to the surface of the land pursuant to the provisions of this article.
(c) The Legislature declares that the public policy of this state shall be that the compensation and damages provided in this article for surface owners may not be diminished by any provision in a deed, lease or other contract of conveyance entered into after December 31, 2011.
(d) It is the purpose of this article to provide Constitutionally permissible protection and compensation to surface owners of lands on which horizontal wells are drilled from the burden resulting from drilling operations commenced after January 1, 2012. This article is to be interpreted in the light of the legislative intent expressed herein. This article shall be interpreted to benefit surface owners, regardless of whether the oil and gas mineral estate was separated from the surface estate and regardless of who executed the document which gave the oil and gas developer the right to conduct drilling operations on the land. Section four of this article shall be interpreted to benefit all persons.
(e) The provisions of this article apply to any natural gas well, other than a coalbed methane well, drilled using a horizontal drilling method, and which disturbs three acres or more of surface, excluding pipelines, gathering lines and roads or uses more than two hundred ten thousand gallons of water in any thirty-day period. Article seven of this chapter does not apply to any damages associated with the drilling of a horizontal well.
(7) "Surface owner" means a person who owns an estate in fee in the surface of land, either solely or as a coowner.
§22-6B-3. Compensation of surface owners for drilling operations.
(5) The diminution in value, if any, of the surface lands and other property after completion of the surface disturbance done pursuant to the activity for which the permit was issued determined according to the market value of the actual use made thereof by the surface owner immediately prior to the commencement of the permitted activity.
The amount of damages may be determined by any formula mutually agreeable between the surface owner and the oil and gas developer.
(b) Any reservation or assignment of the compensation provided in this section apart from the surface estate except to a tenant of the surface estate is prohibited.
(c) In the case of surface lands owned by more than one person as tenants in common, joint tenants or other coownership, any claim for compensation under this article shall be for the benefit of all coowners. The resolution of a claim for compensation provided in this article operates as a bar to the assertion of additional claims under this section arising out of the same drilling operations.
§22-6B-4. Common law right of action preserved; offsets.
(a) Nothing in section three or elsewhere in this article diminishes in any way the common law remedies, including damages, of a surface owner or any other person against the oil and gas developer for the unreasonable, negligent or otherwise wrongful exercise of the contractual right, whether express or implied, to use the surface of the land for the benefit of the developer's mineral interest.
(b) An oil and gas developer is entitled to offset compensation agreed to be paid or awarded to a surface owner under section three of this article against any damages sought by or awarded to the surface owner through the assertion of common law remedies respecting the surface land actually occupied by the same drilling operation.
(c) An oil and gas developer is entitled to offset damages agreed to be paid or awarded to a surface owner through the assertion of common-law remedies against compensation sought by or awarded to the surface owner under section three of this article respecting the surface land actually occupied by the same drilling operation.
Any surface owner, to receive compensation under section three of this article, shall notify the oil and gas developer of the damages sustained by the person within two years after the date that the oil and gas developer files notice that final reclamation is commencing under section fourteen, article six-a of this chapter. The notice of reclamation shall be given to surface owners by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and is complete upon mailing. If more than three tenants in common or other coowners hold interests in the lands, the oil and gas developer may give the notice to the person described in the records of the sheriff required to be maintained pursuant to section eight, article one, chapter eleven-a of this code or publish in the county in which the well is located or to be located a Class II legal advertisement as described in section two, article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code, containing the notice and information the secretary prescribes by rule.
§22-6B-6. Agreement; offer of settlement.
Unless the parties provide otherwise by written agreement, within sixty days after the oil and gas developer received the notification of claim specified in section five of this article, the oil and gas developer shall either make an offer of settlement to the surface owner seeking compensation, or reject the claim. The surface owner may accept or reject any offer so made: Provided, That the oil and gas developer may make a final offer within seventy-five days after receiving the notification of claim specified in section five of this article.
§22-6B-7. Rejection; legal action; arbitration; fees and costs.
(a) (1) Unless the oil and gas developer has paid the surface owner a negotiated settlement of compensation within seventy-five days after the date the notification of claim was mailed under section five of this article, the surface owner may, within eighty days after the notification mail date, either (i) Bring an action for compensation in the circuit court of the county in which the well is located; or (ii) elect instead, by written notice delivered by personal service or by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the designated agent named by the oil and gas developer under the provisions of section seven, article six-a of this chapter, to have his, her or its compensation finally determined by binding arbitration pursuant to article ten, chapter fifty-five of this code.
(2) Settlement negotiations, offers and counter-offers between the surface owner and the oil and gas developer are not admissible as evidence in any arbitration or judicial proceeding authorized under this article, or in any proceeding resulting from the assertion of common law remedies.
(b) The compensation to be awarded to the surface owner shall be determined by a panel of three disinterested arbitrators. The first arbitrator shall be chosen by the surface owner in the party's notice of election under this section to the oil and gas developer; the second arbitrator shall be chosen by the oil and gas developer within ten days after receipt of the notice of election; and the third arbitrator shall be chosen jointly by the first two arbitrators within twenty days thereafter. If they are unable to agree upon the third arbitrator within twenty days, then the two arbitrators shall immediately submit the matter to the court under the provisions of section one, article ten, chapter fifty-five of this code, so that, among other things, the third arbitrator can be chosen by the judge of the circuit court of the county in which the surface estate lies.
(c) The following persons are considered interested and may not be appointed as arbitrators: Any person who is personally interested in the land on which horizontal drilling is being performed or has been performed, or in any interest or right therein, or in the compensation and any damages to be awarded therefor, or who is related by blood or marriage to any person having such personal interest, or who stands in the relation of guardian and ward, master and servant, principal and agent, or partner, real estate broker, or surety to any person having such personal interest, or who has enmity against or bias in favor of any person who has such personal interest or who is the owner of, or interested in, the land or the oil and gas development of the land. A person is not considered interested or incompetent to act as arbitrator by reason of being an inhabitant of the county, district or municipal corporation in which the land is located, or holding an interest in any other land therein.
(d) The panel of arbitrators shall hold hearings and take testimony and receive exhibits necessary to determine the amount of compensation to be paid to the surface owner. However, no award of compensation may be made to the surface owner unless the panel of arbitrators has first viewed the surface estate in question. A transcript of the evidence may be made but is not required.
(e) Each party shall pay the compensation of the party's arbitrator and one half of the compensation of the third arbitrator, or each party's own court costs as the case may be.
The remedies provided by this article do not preclude any person from seeking other remedies allowed by law.
ARTICLE 8. SHALLOW GAS WELL REVIEW BOARD.
(24) “Well operator” means any person who proposes to or does locate, drill, operate or abandon any well.
(16) “Just and equitable share of production” means, as to each person, an amount of oil or gas or both substantially equal to the amount of recoverable oil and gas in that part of a pool underlying such the person’s tract or tracts.
(b) Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the use of the word “and” and the word “or” shall be are interchangeable, as, for example, “oil and gas” shall mean means oil or gas or both.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to establish a specialized regulatory process for large gas drilling operations conducting horizontal drilling activities that disturb three acres or more or use more than 210,000 gallons of water in 30 days; establishes additional permitting conditions to provide requirements particular to this activity; and provide procedures for fair compensation to surface owners.
§5B-2B-4a, §22-6-2a, §22-6A-1, §22-6A-2, §22-6A-3, §22-6A-3a, §22-6A-4, §22-6A-5, §22-6A-6, §22-6A-7, §22-6A-8, §22-6A-9, §22-6A-10, §22-6A-11, §22-6A-12, §22-6A-13, §22-6A-14, §22-6A-15, §22-6A-16, §22-6A-17, §22-6A-18, §22-6A-19, §22-6A-20, §22-6A-21, §22-6A-22, §22-6A-23, §22-6A-24, §22-6B-1, §22-6B-2, §22-6B-3, §22-6B-4, §22-6B-5, §22-6B-6, §22-6B-7 and §22-6B-8 are new; therefore, they have been completely underscored.

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