HB0221 • 2020

Oil and gas drilling-notice.

AN ACT relating to oil and gas; providing for the notice of drilling of wells as specified; and providing for an effective date.

Energy Land

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Representative Zwonitzer
Last action: 2020-02-14
Official status: inactive
Effective date: 3/1/2020

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary text was not provided, so additional details could not be verified beyond what is in the official digest and bill text excerpt.

Oil and Gas Drilling Notice Requirements

The bill requires the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to establish rules for notifying nearby landowners before drilling new oil or gas wells.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (WOGCC) to create rules specifying a reasonable distance from a well within which notice must be given, not exceeding half a mile.
Specifies that notices must be sent by postcard to all landowners within the established distance.
If the well is located in an incorporated area, the local government also needs to receive notice by certified mail.

Who It Names or Affects

Oil and gas companies planning to drill new wells
Landowners within a reasonable distance from planned well sites, not exceeding half a mile
Local governments if the well is in an incorporated area

Terms To Know

Commission: The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, which oversees oil and gas activities.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass, so these rules are not currently in effect.
It does not specify what happens if someone does not receive their notice.

Bill History

2020-02-14 House
H Did not Consider for Introduction Vote
2020-02-12 House
H Received for Introduction
2020-02-11 LSO
Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

20LSO-0391
2020
STATE OF WYOMING
20LSO-0391
Introduced
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0221

Oil and gas drilling-notice.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Zwonitzer and Senator(s) Nethercott

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to oil and gas; providing for the notice of drilling of wells as specified; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 30
‑
5
‑
115 is amended to read:

30
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5
‑
115.

Permit required to drill well; notices; fee.

(a)

A person desiring to drill a well in search of oil or gas shall notify the commission of such intent on a
form prescribed by the commission, and shall pay a fee established by the commission in accordance with W.S. 30
‑
5
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104(a) for a permit for each well. Upon receipt of notification and the fee, the commission shall promptly issue such person a permit to drill, unless the drilling of the well is contrary to law, or to a rule, regulation, or order of the commission. The drilling of a well is prohibited until a permit to drill is obtained in accordance with the provisions of this act.

(b)

Before issuing a permit under this section, the commission may require a person desiring to drill a well to provide notice to persons located within a reasonable distance from the well. If notice is required pursuant to this subsection:

(i)

The commission shall in rule establish the reasonable distance from the well in which notice is required which shall not be more than one-half (1/2) mile from the well;

(ii)

The notice shall be sent by postcard, include only a summary of the plan of work and proposed dates of drilling and identify how further information about the work may be obtained;

(iii)

The notice shall be sent by first class United States mail to all landowners located within the established distance from the well;

(iv)

If the well is located within a municipality, the notice shall also be sent to the governing body of the municipality by certified mail.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2020
.

(END)

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HB0221