COGCC Adopts New Regulations Concerning Oil and Gas Location Assessment Permits

On January 25, 2016, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission adopted new regulations pertaining to oil and gas location assessment permits (Form 2A), which reflect two recommendations proposed by the Governor’s Task Force on State and Local Regulation of Oil and Gas Operations.

The Task Force has been working on those regulations since last year and largely focused on how to implement Recommendations 17 and 20. Recommendation 17 addressed enhancement of the coordination between operators and local governments concerning locations for “Large Scale Oil and Gas Facilities” in “Urban Mitigation Areas” while Recommendation 20 proposed to integrate future oil and gas drilling and production facilities in existing local comprehensive planning processes.

The Commission conducted two hearings in November 2015 to discuss the regulations and finally reached a consensus on January 25. According to a media report, “seven other recommendations are still being dealt with by the state legislature, other agencies, or COGCC on a non-rulemaking basis.”

Written by Chloe Marie - Research Fellow

02/01/2016

California Proposes New Well Stimulation Regulations

On November 18, 2013, California's Department of Conservation released proposed hydraulic fracturing regulations, which include requiring oil and gas producers to have permits in order to stimulate wells by hydraulic fracturing or acid treatment.  Under the proposed regulations, a producer must disclose the date of stimulation, the location of the well, and the types of chemicals and amount of water used.  In addition to those disclosures, the proposed regulations require producers to notify neighboring owners and tenants before stimulating a well and provide them an opportunity to have their water tested by a third party.  The regulation further provides that producers must monitor well pressures before, during, and after well stimulation.

The proposed regulations are available here: Proposed Regulations

Written by: Tom Panighetti

November 19, 2013

The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Opens the Comment Period for new Proposed Hydraulic Fracturing Regulations.

On November 1st, The Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) announced a public comment period for the third draft of proposed regulations that will change the way hydraulic fracturing is regulated in the state.  The AOGCC’s new regulations will require the notification of landowners, surface owners, and operators within one-half mile of the wellbore, the sampling and analysis of water wells before and after hydraulic fracturing, the disclosure of the chemicals in the hydrolic fracturing fluids, the requirements for wellbore integrity and cementing, and require the containment of hydraulic fracturing fluids.

Comments on the proposed regulation changes can be set by fax to (907) 276-7542, by email, or by submitting written comments by mail to:

Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission

333 West 7^th Avenue, Suite 100

Anchorage, Alaska 9950

All written comments must be received by 4:30 p.m. on January 10, 2014. Oral or written comments may also be submitted on January 15, 2014 at the public hearing in Anchorage.

Click here for a copy of the proposed regulation changes.

Click here for more information on submitting public comments.

Written by Joseph Negaard - Research Assistant

The Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center

@PSUAgLawCenter

November 15, 2013

U.S. Sec. of Energy Moniz Discusses Regulation of Fracking

On June 30, during his interview on Platts Energy Week, US Secretary of Energy Enerst Moniz said the states are, and should remain, the primary source for regulation. Moniz discussed the different geological conditions of the states where fracking occurs and the need for states to address these differences with their own regulations. He suggested, however, that the EPA would still need to decide whether or not it would design a set of baseline principles for states to follow.

Further, Moniz attributed many of the environmental concerns of fracking to improper well construction. He called the problems “manageable” as well construction techniques and regulations continue to improve.

For the full interview, visit Platts Energy Week. Part 2 of the interview focuses on LNG exports, and hydraulic fracturing.

Written by: Garrett Lent, Research Assistant

Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center

June 2013