House Bill 64 Summary

• Requires the Department of Lands to notify the Director of the Department of Water Resources of applications for permits to drill or treat wells, with the director having 10 business days to recommend necessary conditions to protect freshwater supplies.

• Changes integration order options from five to four options by consolidating provisions, and requires publication of notices in newspapers of general circulation for owners who are unknown or cannot be located.

• Permits applicants to appeal director decisions on permit applications and other oil and gas orders to the Oil and Gas Commission within 14 calendar days of the written decision.

• Establishes that appeals to the commission must be filed and heard within specified timeframes, with commission decisions final and not subject to reconsideration, and clarifies that only persons who complete the appeal process have exhausted administrative remedies.

• Updates the fee schedule for various permit applications, including drilling permits ($2,000), integration orders ($1,300), and seismic operations permits ($800-$2,500), with fees deposited in the oil and gas conservation fund.