(a) It shall be unlawful for the owner or operator of any well to temporarily abandon same for more than 90 days without specific permission from the department for an extension of the time period during which temporary abandonment is permitted.

(b) Permission for an extension of the time period during which temporary abandonment is permitted shall be granted administratively by the department upon written application therefor by the owner or operator and the demonstration of sufficient good cause. Such extension shall be granted for a reasonable time period and shall be renewable for additional reasonable time periods upon receipt of successive petitions from the owner or operator and the demonstration of continued sufficient good cause.

(c) Upon termination of the period of lawful temporary abandonment, the owner or operator must either resume operations or permanently plug and abandon the well as provided hereinafter.