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The Arizona Revised Statutes have been updated to include the revised sections from the 56th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session. Please note that the next update of this compilation will not take place until after the conclusion of the 57th Legislature, 1st Regular Session, which convenes in January 2025.

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This online version of the Arizona Revised Statutes is primarily maintained for legislative drafting purposes and reflects the version of law that is effective on January 1st of the year following the most recent legislative session. The official version of the Arizona Revised Statutes is published by Thomson Reuters.

Title 27 - Minerals, Oil and Gas

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Chapter 1
STATE AGENCIES AND OFFICERS
Sec: 27-101-27-131
Article 1Arizona Geological Survey
  • 27-102
  • Arizona geological survey; state geologist; powers
  • 27-103
  • Objectives of Arizona geological survey
  • 27-104
  • Qualifications of employees; private activities relating to geological services prohibited
  • 27-106
  • Duties of Arizona geological survey; mining, mineral and natural resources educational museum
  • 27-107
  • Powers and duties; fund
  • 27-110
  • Trade secrets; confidentiality; definition
  • 27-111
  • Mining, mineral and natural resources educational museum advisory council; membership; duties; terms; compensation
  • 27-112
  • Mapping; inventory; aggregate resources
Article 2State Mine Inspector
  • 27-121
  • Qualifications of state mine inspector; affidavit; continuing education; deputy inspectors; salary; seal; immunity
  • 27-123
  • Education and training fees
  • 27-124
  • Mine inspections required; powers of inspector
  • 27-126
  • Annual report to governor
  • 27-127
  • Restrictions on divulging information by inspectors and employees; dismissal for violation
  • 27-128
  • Inspection of mines; violation; classification
  • 27-129
  • Locating abandoned mines; public education; donor immunity
  • 27-131
  • Abandoned mines safety fund; annual report
Chapter 2
MINING RIGHTS IN LAND
Sec: 27-201-27-276
Article 1Mining Locations
  • 27-201
  • Location of mining claim upon discovery of mineral in place
  • 27-202
  • Method of locating a lode claim; monument; location notice; amendments
  • 27-203
  • Completing lode, placer or millsite locations; recording location notice; monumenting; map, plat or sketch requirements; abandonment of claims; recorder duties and fees
  • 27-204
  • Monumenting lode claims
  • 27-205
  • Locating and monumenting placer and millsite claims
  • 27-208
  • Affidavit of annual work; affidavit of claim maintenance fee payment; fees
  • 27-209
  • Sufficiency of description of mining claims
Article 2Rights of Co-Owners
  • 27-221
  • Notice to delinquent co-owner to contribute share of annual labor expense or maintenance fees
  • 27-222
  • Acknowledgment of contribution by delinquent co-owner
Article 3Lease of State Lands for Mineral Claims
  • 27-233
  • Preferred right to renew mineral lease; evaluation of geologic and economic evidence
  • 27-234
  • Rent; royalty; appeal; interest; penalty; lien
  • 27-235
  • Offering permits and leases at auction; terms of lease; financial security termination
  • 27-236
  • Suspension of royalty rights
  • 27-239
  • Inspections, investigations and audits
Article 4Mineral Exploration Permits and Mineral Leases
  • 27-251
  • Application for mineral exploration permit
  • 27-252
  • Terms of mineral exploration permit; definition
Article 5Lease of State Lands for Common Variety Minerals
  • 27-271
  • Definition of common variety minerals
  • 27-271.01
  • Inventory of trust land containing common mineral products, materials and property
  • 27-272
  • Common variety mineral leases; terms and conditions; rules
  • 27-273
  • Performance and reclamation bonds
  • 27-274
  • Trade secrets; confidentiality; definition
Chapter 3
OPERATION OF MINES
Sec: 27-301-27-469
Article 1General Provisions
  • 27-302
  • Operations subject to chapter; enforcement by inspector; violation; classification
  • 27-303
  • Notification to inspector of beginning or suspending operations
  • 27-304
  • Operator responsibility
  • 27-305
  • Employee responsibility
  • 27-306
  • First aid; inspectors as qualified instructors
  • 27-307
  • Notice to operator of dangerous condition; compliance; failure to comply as prima facie evidence of negligence; order to cease operations
  • 27-308
  • Complaint to inspector of dangerous conditions by employee; inspection
  • 27-309
  • Reports of fatal accidents to inspector; investigation
  • 27-310
  • Copy of law available for inspection
  • 27-311
  • Fire prevention and protection
  • 27-314
  • Electrical installations
  • 27-316
  • Intoxicating liquors and drugs
  • 27-317
  • Waste dumps and tailings areas; signs; violation; classification
  • 27-318
  • Abandoned and inactive mines to be secured; inspector authority; violation; classification
Article 2Explosives and Blasting
  • 27-321
  • Explosives; records; inspection
  • 27-322
  • Explosives; marking; utilization and storage
  • 27-323
  • Explosives; rules and regulations; access to operations
Article 3Hoists, Shafts and Underground Operations
  • 27-343
  • Structures over mine outlet
  • 27-347
  • Construction of ladder-ways
  • 27-349
  • Tracks and roadbeds; maintenance underground
  • 27-351
  • Hoists; operator; indicator
  • 27-352
  • Inspection and construction of hoists
  • 27-353
  • Safety cage and catches
  • 27-355
  • Hoisting tools and materials
  • 27-356
  • Protection from falling materials
  • 27-360
  • Precautions against flooding
  • 27-361
  • Common system of drainage; contribution of cost
  • 27-363
  • Danger signals; visitors
  • 27-364
  • Interfering with equipment
  • 27-365
  • Regulation of underground use of internal combustion engines
  • 27-366
  • Maps of underground workings
  • 27-367
  • Maintenance and use of loading equipment
  • 27-368
  • Ventilation; condition of airways; testing
  • 27-369
  • Evacuation; procedure; routes
  • 27-372
  • Uranium operations; testing for radon daughters
Article 4Prevention of Hazardous Dust and Gas Conditions
Article 5Open Pits
  • 27-423
  • Tracks, roadbeds and roadways
  • 27-424
  • Operation of heavy equipment
  • 27-425
  • Open pits; fencing or blocking
Article 6Aggregate Mining Operations
  • 27-442
  • Aggregate mining operations; community notice; application
  • 27-443
  • Application fee; aggregate community notice fund
  • 27-444
  • Community notice; public meeting
  • 27-445
  • Approval of community notice or major modification
  • 27-446
  • Claims of deviation from an approved community notice
  • 27-447
  • Inspection and enforcement
  • 27-448
  • Sand and gravel safety rules
Article 7Rules and Regulations
  • 27-462
  • Administration by inspector; rules and regulations
  • 27-464
  • Notice of proposed adoption of rule
  • 27-469
  • Exceptions to rules and regulations
Chapter 4
OIL AND GAS
Sec: 27-501-27-677
Article 1Production and Conservation
  • 27-503
  • Waste of oil or gas prohibited; powers of commissioner to prevent waste
  • 27-504
  • Drilling units; rules and regulations; exceptions
  • 27-506
  • Regulation of drilling in pools; notice of sale, transfer or purchase
  • 27-507.01
  • Common purchaser of crude oil and petroleum; duties; ratable taking; discrimination prohibited
  • 27-508.01
  • Common purchaser of gas; duties; ratable taking; discrimination prohibited
  • 27-509
  • Certificate of compliance
  • 27-510
  • Certificate of clearance
  • 27-511
  • Confiscation proceedings
  • 27-512
  • Sale of illegal oil or gas or illegal products
  • 27-513.01
  • Appointment by drilling permittee of attorney upon whom to serve process
  • 27-514
  • Commission; appointment; terms; compensation
  • 27-515
  • Administration; powers of the commission; fees
  • 27-517
  • Hearings; reporter; fees
  • 27-519
  • Refusal to obey subpoena
  • 27-520
  • Judicial review; procedures
  • 27-521
  • Duties of attorney general
  • 27-523
  • Deposit of monies; expenses
  • 27-525
  • Injunctions and restraining orders
  • 27-527
  • Violation; classification
Article 1.1Fieldwide Unitization
  • 27-531
  • Integration of interests and spacing units
  • 27-532
  • Order; units and unit areas; plan of unitization
  • 27-533
  • Ratification or approval of plan by lessees and owners
  • 27-535
  • Status and powers of unit; liability and expenses; lien
  • 27-536
  • Modification of property rights, leases and contracts; title to property; distribution of proceeds; delivery in kind; effect of operations; matters not affected
  • 27-537
  • Enlargement of area; creation of new units; amendment of plan
  • 27-539
  • Validation of unit agreements
Article 2Lease of State Lands for Oil and Gas
  • 27-553
  • Leasing state lands for oil and gas
  • 27-554
  • Designation of known geological structures of producing oil and gas fields
  • 27-555
  • Lease of state lands not located within known geological structure of producing oil and gas field; application; lease extension; provisions of lease; withdrawal of lands from leasing
  • 27-555.01
  • Extension of lease due to lack of transportation, processing facilities or market
  • 27-556
  • Lease of state lands located within known geological structure of producing oil or gas field; sealed bids; call for bids; publication; lease extension; provisions of lease; acreage limitation
  • 27-557
  • Unit operations; unit agreements
  • 27-559
  • Development of water for use in operations; taking over well which yields fresh water
  • 27-560
  • Surface use by lessee; liability for damages; bond; appraisal of damages; appeal
  • 27-561
  • Assignment of lease; recording
  • 27-563
  • Payment of noncompetitive lease royalties in kind or cash
  • 27-564
  • Receipt and sale of royalty oil
  • 27-565
  • Application to purchase royalty oil
  • 27-566
  • Notice to lessee of election; storage
  • 27-568
  • Delivery of oil to purchaser
  • 27-570
  • Bond and penalties; waiver
  • 27-571
  • Inspecting well records; trade secrets; confidentiality; definition
Article 3Interstate Oil Compact
  • 27-601
  • Authorization to enter compact
  • 27-602
  • Extension of expiration date
  • 27-603
  • Official representative
Article 4Geothermal Resources
  • 27-652
  • Supervision by commission
  • 27-653
  • Information; filing; confidentiality
  • 27-654
  • Drilling bond; amount; responsibility
  • 27-655
  • Commission approval prior to operation; information; hearing
  • 27-656
  • Rules and orders; hearing
  • 27-658
  • Notice of sale or conveyance of well or land
  • 27-661
  • Drilling record; samples
  • 27-663
  • Unlawful interference; classification
  • 27-664
  • Cooperative development agreements; unitization
  • 27-665
  • Unitization; requirements
  • 27-667
  • Relationship of geothermal resources to water laws
  • 27-668
  • Leasing state lands for development of geothermal resources
  • 27-669
  • Designation of known geothermal resource areas
  • 27-670
  • Lease of state lands; application; call for bids; publication; withdrawal of lands from leasing
  • 27-672
  • Unit operations; unit agreements
  • 27-673
  • Surface use by lessee; liability for damages; bond; appraisal of damages; appeal
  • 27-674
  • Assignment of lease; recording
  • 27-677
  • Violation; civil penalty
Chapter 5
MINED LAND RECLAMATION
Sec: 27-901-27-1026
Article 1Administration
  • 27-902
  • Division of mined land reclamation; coordination of programs and activities
  • 27-903
  • Exemption for state lands; agreements for coordination with other governmental agencies and landowners
  • 27-905
  • Certificate of disclosure of violations; remedies; definition
Article 2General Regulatory Provisions
  • 27-921
  • Surface disturbances created by new exploration operation or mining unit
  • 27-922
  • Surface disturbances created by existing exploration operation or mining unit; extension; continuing operations
  • 27-923
  • Creating surface disturbances of five acres or less
  • 27-925
  • Remedial response to emergencies and governmental orders
  • 27-926
  • Initiation, extension and completion of reclamation
  • 27-927
  • Substantial changes to approved reclamation plan; fee
  • 27-928
  • Transferring an approved reclamation plan
  • 27-929
  • Notice of plan or substantial change
  • 27-930
  • Public disclosure of information; definition
  • 27-932
  • Coordination with other governmental agencies
  • 27-934
  • Plan submission fee; accounting and appropriation of revenues
  • 27-935
  • Plan review and evaluation by private consultants
Article 3Exploration Operations Reclamation Plan
  • 27-951
  • Submission and contents of reclamation plan
  • 27-952
  • Notice of complete, incomplete or denied plan
  • 27-954
  • Beginning new exploration operations
Article 4Mining Unit Reclamation Plan
  • 27-971
  • Submission and contents of reclamation plan
  • 27-972
  • Notice of complete, incomplete or denied plan
  • 27-974
  • Preservation and conservation of soil; exceptions
  • 27-975
  • Features excluded from reclamation plan or allowed to remain following reclamation; public protection measures
  • 27-976
  • Beginning new mining units
Article 5Financial Assurance
  • 27-991
  • Financial assurance requirements; form
  • 27-992
  • Mining unit or existing exploration operation
  • 27-993
  • New exploration operation
  • 27-994
  • Duplication of financial assurance not required
  • 27-995
  • Incremental financial assurance
  • 27-996
  • Release of financial assurance
  • 27-997
  • Rules; release, forfeiture or exercise of financial assurance
Article 6Enforcement
  • 27-1023
  • Enforcement action on reclamation plan approval
  • 27-1024
  • Injunctive relief; civil penalties
Chapter 6
AGGREGATE MINED LAND RECLAMATION
Sec: 27-1201-27-1327
Article 1Administration
  • 27-1202
  • Coordination of programs and activities
  • 27-1203
  • Exemption for state lands; agreements for coordination with other governmental agencies and landowners
  • 27-1203.01
  • Exemption for limited, intermittent-use projects
  • 27-1205
  • Certificate of disclosure of violations; remedies; definition
Article 2General Regulatory Provisions
  • 27-1221
  • Surface disturbances created by new exploration operation or aggregate mining unit
  • 27-1222
  • Surface disturbances created by existing exploration operation or aggregate mining unit; extension; continuing operations
  • 27-1223
  • Creating surface disturbances of five acres or less
  • 27-1224
  • Inactive aggregate mining units
  • 27-1225
  • Remedial response to governmental orders
  • 27-1226
  • Initiation, extension and completion of reclamation
  • 27-1227
  • Substantial changes to approved reclamation plan
  • 27-1228
  • Transferring an approved reclamation plan
  • 27-1229
  • Notice of plan or substantial change; new exploration operations; new aggregate mining units
  • 27-1230
  • Notice of plan for existing exploration operations and existing aggregate mining units
  • 27-1231
  • Public disclosure of information; definition
  • 27-1232
  • Coordination with other governmental agencies
  • 27-1233
  • Fees; plan submissions; substantial changes; aggregate mining reclamation fund
  • 27-1234
  • Plan review and evaluation by private consultants
Article 3Exploration Operations Reclamation Plan
  • 27-1251
  • Submission and contents of reclamation plan
  • 27-1252
  • Notice of complete, incomplete or denied plan
  • 27-1254
  • Beginning new exploration operations
Article 4Aggregate Mining Unit Reclamation Plan
  • 27-1271
  • Submission and contents of reclamation plan
  • 27-1272
  • Notice of complete, incomplete or denied plan
  • 27-1274
  • Preservation and conservation of soil; exceptions
  • 27-1275
  • Features excluded from reclamation plan or allowed to remain following reclamation; public protection measures
  • 27-1276
  • Beginning new aggregate mining units
Article 5Financial Assurance
  • 27-1291
  • Financial assurance requirements; form
  • 27-1292
  • Aggregate mining unit or existing exploration operation
  • 27-1294
  • Duplication of financial assurance not required
  • 27-1295
  • Incremental financial assurance
  • 27-1296
  • Release of financial assurance
  • 27-1297
  • Rules; release, forfeiture or exercise of financial assurance
Article 6Enforcement
  • 27-1323
  • Enforcement action on reclamation plan approval
  • 27-1324
  • Injunctive relief; civil penalties
  • 27-1327
  • Procurement; aggregate materials; eligibility