Bill No.: SF0166                  Drafter:  MQ

LSO No.:  07LSO-0655              Effective Date:  7/1/2007

Enrolled Act No.:  SEA0058

Chapter No.:

Prime Sponsor:     Senator Hines

Catch Title:       Drilling reports-confidentiality.

Subject:  Provides for the confidentiality of drilling reports following completion and abandonment of an oil and gas well.

Summary/Major Elements:

· Current law requires that a drilling report be filed with DEQ – Land Quality Division within 12 months after the completion and proper abandonment of any oil and gas well.  Report includes the location of the hole and the depth of each hole drilled.

· Prior law provided that the reports were confidential indefinitely.

· This bill provides that the reports are confidential 5 years from the date of filing, which period may be extended for additional 5 year periods upon the request of the person filing the report.

· Bill also provides that if the Land Quality Division receives a request for the release of any old report filed prior to the effective date of the act, the Division is to notify the person filing the report of the request for the release of the report.  If no objection is made, then the report is released.  If an objection is made, then the report is not to be released.

· Also requires the Division to publish the provisions of the act in a statewide newspaper.