CS for SB 318 - Regulation of Oil and Gas Resources

• Preempts all local ordinances and regulations governing oil and gas exploration, development, production, processing, storage, and transportation to the state level, voiding existing local regulations except pre-2015 zoning ordinances.

• Requires permits for high-pressure well stimulation operations and establishes a mandatory study (due June 30, 2017) to evaluate geologic impacts, water contamination risks, and fluid disposition before rules can be adopted and ratified by the Legislature.

• Removes requirement for municipal approval before granting permits to drill gas or oil wells within city limits, giving the Division of Water Resource Management sole permitting authority.

• Designates FracFocus as Florida's chemical disclosure registry and requires service providers and operators to report specific well stimulation fluid information, including chemical ingredients and concentrations, to the department within 60 days.

• Increases civil penalty for violations from $10,000 to $25,000 per offense and allows consideration of applicants' prior adjudicated violations in other states when issuing permits, with authority to impose increased bonding up to five times standard limits.

• Appropriates $1 million in nonrecurring funds to the Department of Environmental Protection for fiscal year 2016-2017 to conduct the high-pressure well stimulation study.