HB 676 Summary

• Prohibits all state agencies, including the Department of Environmental Quality, Environmental Management Commission, Commission for Public Health, and Mining and Energy Commission, from issuing permits for oil or gas exploration or development using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing.

• Removes language allowing horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing from regulatory statutes governing oil and gas exploration and development activities.

• Eliminates the exception in groundwater protection law that previously allowed injection of hydraulic fracturing fluid for natural gas exploration and development.

• Repeals G.S. 113-415.1, which restored community choice on oil and gas exploration, and repeals G.S. 113-391(a)(5) and G.S. 113-395(b).

• Takes effect upon becoming law and applies to all permit applications for oil and gas exploration or development activities received by state agencies after the effective date.