Home Table of Contents

§ 14-106. Bifurcation of permit process

West's Annotated Code of MarylandEnvironmentEffective: July 1, 2010

West's Annotated Code of Maryland
Environment
Title 14. Gas and Oil (Refs & Annos)
Subtitle 1. In General
Effective: July 1, 2010
MD Code, Environment, § 14-106
§ 14-106. Bifurcation of permit process
Bifurcation authorized
(a) The Department may bifurcate an application to drill for oil or gas when the drilling will be conducted in geologic formations not yet proven to be productive.
Permit for exploration only
(b) If the Department bifurcates the permit process it may issue a permit for exploration only. Production may not commence until the environmental assessment required by § 14-104 of this subtitle has been completed and approved by the Department and the Department has issued a permit for production. An additional opportunity for a public hearing shall be provided in accordance with § 14-105(f) of this subtitle prior to the issuance of any permit for production.
Bifurcation of environmental assessment
(c) If the Department bifurcates the permit process, the environmental assessment required under § 14-104 of this subtitle may also be bifurcated to address separately environmental issues associated with exploration and production. However, prior to granting a permit to conduct exploratory drilling in the coastal plain, the Department shall require the applicant to submit an environmental assessment that contains general information regarding the environmental impacts of possible production, including the potential effects of transporting and storing oil or gas and the potential adverse environmental impacts that may arise due to the environmental characteristics of the drilling site.

Credits

Added by Acts 1993, c. 367. Renumbered from Natural Resources § 6-104.3 by Acts 1995, c. 488, § 2, eff. July 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1995, c. 488, § 16, eff. July 1, 1995; Acts 1996, c. 10, § 1, eff. April 9, 1996; Acts 2010, c. 72, § 5, eff. April 13, 2010.
MD Code, Environment, § 14-106, MD ENVIR § 14-106
Current with all legislation from the 2023 Regular Session of the General Assembly. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document