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ID H0463
Bill
Status
3/20/2012
Primary Sponsor
Resources and Conservation Committee
Click for details
AI Summary
HB 463 Summary
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Reorganizes and clarifies definitions of oil and gas terms in Idaho Code Section 47-318, including "waste," "condensate," "correlative rights," "pool," "field," "owner," and "producer."
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Authorizes the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to keep well logs and directional surveys from exploratory and wildcat wells confidential for one year, but allows the commission to use these documents in enforcement actions.
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Establishes civil penalty authority for the commission of up to $10,000 per violation (with each day constituting a separate violation) plus attorney's fees, with appeal rights to district court within 28 days.
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Grants the commission authority to bring civil actions for violations or threatened violations and to seek damages including costs of well control, spill response, cleanup, restoration, well plugging, and reclamation.
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Increases maximum imprisonment penalty for falsification of records from six to twelve months while maintaining the $5,000 maximum fine and provides that the commission may use discretion to address minor violations through warnings or administrative action rather than prosecution.
Legislative Description
Amends existing law relating to oil and gas to revise provisions relating to the confidentiality of certain exploratory and wildcat wells; to provide for the use of well logs and directional surveys in actions to enforce specified provisions; to provide for the assessment of civil penalties by the Oil and Gas Conservation Commission; to provide that the commission may bring civil actions for certain violations and threats to violate and to provide for damages; to provide that certain conduct shall constitute a misdemeanor and to provide for penalties; to provide for the discretion of the commission relating to minor violations; to remove provisions relating to actions against the commission and appeals; and to revise penalty provisions relating to the falsification of certain records.
OIL AND GAS
Last Action
Governor signed Session Law Chapter 73 Effective: 03/20/12
3/20/2012