What's happening
This bill strengthens environmental and public health protections in oil and gas extraction and repeals compulsory integration provisions.
Why it matters
Shifts the focus of oil and gas regulation. from primarily preventing waste to explicitly prioritizing protection of the environment and public health, which could influence how future extraction projects are evaluated and permitted.
Strengthens language around environmental safeguards,. requiring that extraction methods prevent contamination of land and water and that all waste products from oil and gas operations are managed and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner, potentially raising operational standards.
Expands protection to a broader set of rights holders,. emphasizing not just mineral rights owners but also surface landowners and the general public, which may give more stakeholders input or legal standing regarding oil and gas activities in their communities.
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Who cares
Headline styles
End Forced Oil Pooling
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to oil and gas extraction; repealer
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Steven Englebright
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6778
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
October 11, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to extraction of oil and gas; and to repeal section 23-0901 of such law relating to compulsory integration and utilization in oil and natural gas pools and fields
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 23-0301 of the environmental conservation law, as amended by chapter 410 of the laws of 1987, is amended to read as follows: § 23-0301. Declaration of policy.
[It] Notwithstanding any other provision of this article to the contrary, it is hereby declared to be in the public interest to regulate the development, production and utilization of natural resources of oil and gas in this state in such a manner as will [prevent waste] protect the environment and public health of the residents of the state, provide for the development and extraction of oil and gas in a sound environmental manner that prevents contamination of land and water resources, and provide for the environmentally sound management and disposal of waste products resulting from these extraction activities; to authorize and to provide for the operation and development of oil and gas properties in such a manner that a greater ultimate recovery of oil and gas may be had[, and] without creating additional harm or contamination to the environment, and that the correlative rights of all surface land and mineral rights owners and the rights of all persons including landowners and the general public may be fully protected[,]; and to provide in similar fashion for the underground storage of gas, the solution mining of salt and geothermal, stratigraphic and brine disposal wells.
§ 2. Section 23-0901 of the environmental conservation law is REPEALED.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06985-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to extraction of oil and gas; and to repeal section 23-0901 of such law relating to compulsory integration and utilization in oil and natural gas pools and fields
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of the bill is to strengthen and clarify the Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) authority with respect to protecting public health and the environment of for the and extraction of oil and the state, while providing development gas in a manner that prevents contamination of land and water resources, and protecting the rights of owners of land and mineral rights.
Summary of specific provisions
The bill amends the Statement of Policy in Article 23 of the Environ- mental Conservation Law (ECL) to clarify responsibility for DEC to protect the environment and public health of the citizens of the state; to provide for the development and extraction of oil and gas in a sound environmental manner that prevents contamination of land and water resources; to provide for environmentally sound management and disposal of waste products resulting from these extraction activities; without creating additional harm or contamination. Furthermore, thebill protects the correlative rights of all surface land and mineral rights owners to be fully protected by repealing ECL § 23-0901, created in 2005, that established compulsory integration and utilization in oil and natural gas pools and fields.
Justification
For decades DEC has struggled to fulfill a dual mission of regulating and encouraging the extraction of oil and gas resources in the State while also protecting the environment. This conflicting jurisdiction has led to decisions and permits that have not been in the best interest of the citizens of the State or the environment. This bill would clearly establish that DEC has the responsibility for regulating the oil and gas industry in a manner that is protective of the environment and public health.
Legislative history
2017-2018: A3107 ref to encon 2015-2016: A6594 ref to encon 2013-2014: A8512 ref to encon
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
Immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.