CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill No. 465

Introduced by Senator Jackson

February 16, 2017

An act to amend Section 3224 of the Public Resources Code, relating to oil and gas.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 465, as introduced, Jackson. Oil and gas conservation: ordered tests and remedial work.
Under existing law, the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources in the Department of Conservation regulates the drilling, operation, maintenance, and abandonment of oil and gas wells in the state. Existing law requires the State Oil and Gas Supervisor to supervise the drilling, operation, maintenance, and abandonment of wells and the operation, maintenance, and removal or abandonment of tanks and facilities related to oil and gas production within an oil and gas field, so as to prevent damage to life, health, property, and natural resources, as provided; to permit owners and operators of wells to utilize all known methods and practices to increase the ultimate recovery of hydrocarbons; and to perform the supervisor’s duties in a manner that encourages the wise development of oil and gas resources to best meet oil and gas needs in this state.
Existing law requires the supervisor to order certain tests or remedial work as are necessary relating to safety and environmental damage and requires the order to be served upon the owner of the well, or his or her local agent, either personally or by mail. If no local agent has been designated or the owner is unknown, existing law requires the supervisor to follow specified notice provisions, including publishing the order in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the well is located.
This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to those provisions.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NO   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 3224 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:

3224.
 The supervisor shall order such tests or remedial work as in his or her judgment are necessary to prevent damage to life, health, property, and natural resources; resources, to protect oil and gas deposits from damage by underground water; or water, to prevent the escape of water into underground formations, or to prevent the infiltration of detrimental substances into underground or surface water suitable for irrigation or domestic purposes, to the best interests of the neighboring property owners and the public. The order shall be in writing, signed by the supervisor. It shall be served upon the owner of the well, or his or her local agent, either personally or by mailing a copy of the order to the post office address given at the time the local agent is designated. If no local agent has been designated, the order shall be served by mailing a copy to the last known post office address of the owner, or if the owner is unknown, by posting a copy in a conspicuous place upon the property, and publishing it once a week for two successive weeks in some a newspaper of general circulation throughout the county in which the well is located. The order shall specify the conditions sought to be remedied and the work necessary to protect such deposits from damage from underground water.