§ 3213. Well registration and identification
Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated StatutesTitle 58 Pa.C.S.A. Oil and GasEffective: April 16, 2012
Effective: April 16, 2012
58 Pa.C.S.A. § 3213
Formerly cited as PA ST 58 P.S. § 601.203
§ 3213. Well registration and identification
(a) General rule.--On or before July 5, 1996, each person who owned or operated a well in existence prior to April 18, 1985, which has not been registered with the department and for which no drilling permit has been issued by the department, shall register the well with the department. A well owner or operator who registers under this subsection and a well owner or operator who has previously registered a well under this chapter shall, on or before July 5, 1996, identify any abandoned well on property which the well owner or operator owns or leases and request approval from the department for classification of the well as an orphan well. Information regarding wells to be registered or identified shall be provided on a form, or in a manner prescribed by the department, and shall include:
(4) An indemnity bond, an alternative fee in lieu of bonding or other evidence of financial security submitted by the well operator and deemed appropriate by the department and satisfying the requirements of section 3225 (relating to bonding). No bond, alternative fee or other evidence of financial security shall be required for identification of an orphan well. For wells drilled prior to January 30, 1956, which have not been bonded, the well operator shall have five years to comply with the provisions of this paragraph.
(a.1) Orphan wells.--After July 5, 1996, a well owner, well operator or other person discovering an abandoned well on property purchased or leased by the well owner, well operator or other person shall identify it to the department within 60 days of discovery and advise the department that he is seeking classification of the well as an orphan well. No fee shall be required for identification.
(b) Extension.--The department may extend the one-year time period under subsection (a) for good cause shown. The extension may not exceed a period ending two years from April 18, 1985. The department may adopt and promulgate guidelines designed to ensure a fair implementation of this section, recognizing the practical difficulties of locating unpermitted wells and complying with the reporting requirements of this chapter.
(d) Definition.--For purposes of subsection (a)(4) and (5), the term “owner” does not include an owner or possessor of surface real property, on which an abandoned well is located, who did not participate or incur costs in and had no right of control over the drilling or extraction operation of the abandoned well.
Credits
2012, Feb. 14, P.L. 87, No. 13, § 1, effective in 60 days [April 16, 2012].
58 Pa.C.S.A. § 3213, PA ST 58 Pa.C.S.A. § 3213
Current through Act 10 of the 2024 Regular Session. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
End of Document |