ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session

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SB 1444: helium exploration; aquifer protection permit

S/E: helium exploration; production; general permit

Sponsor: Senator Shamp, LD 29

Committee on Natural Resources, Energy & Water

Summary of the Strike-Everything Amendment to SB 1444

Overview

Establishes a helium exploration and production general permit and outlines associated requirements.

History

Current law designates the Arizona Oil and Gas Commission (AZOGCC) as the responsible entity for regulating the drilling for and production of oil, gas, helium, carbon dioxide and geothermal resources. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) provides staff support to the commission (A.R.S. §§ 27-514 and 27-515). AZOGCC is statutorily authorized to:

1) review applications for permits to drill;

2) monitor oil, gas, helium and geothermal drilling activities;

3) inspect wells for regulatory compliance; and

4) provide information to the public and exploration and development industry (AZOGCC).

Provisions

1. Requires the Director of the ADEQ to establish, by rule, a helium exploration and production general permit and outlines conditions that would trigger a requirement for a person to obtain an individual permit. (Sec. 1)

2. Requires the rules to include conditions relating to aquifer protection, federal regulations and information on chemical use. (Sec. 1)

3. Provides that rules adopted by the Director require the application of all economically feasible technical requirements determined to be the most practical and effective means of preventing discharge of pollutants. (Sec. 1)

4. Prohibits the Director from requiring more stringent practices of preventing discharging of pollutants if the requirements result in cessation of the regulated activity. (Sec. 1)

5. Prescribes actions and enforcement for violations or plans to violate the rules of the helium exploration and production general permit. (Sec. 1)

6. Requires the Director to reexamine, evaluate and propose any modification to or the waiver of the general permit once every five years. (Sec. 1)

7. Requires ADEQ to publish a notice of proposed rulemaking no later than six months from the effective date of this measure. (Sec. 2)

8. Contains a legislative intent clause. (Sec. 3)

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12.                   SB 1444

13. Initials CW          Page 0 Natural Resources, Energy & Water

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