BILL NUMBER: SB 250	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Rubio

                        FEBRUARY 10, 2011

   An act to amend Section 3203 of the Public Resources Code,
relating to oil and gas.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 250, as introduced, Rubio. Oil and gas: operations: notice of
intention to commence drilling.
   Under existing law, the Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal
Resources in the Department of Conservation regulates the operation
of oil, gas, and geothermal wells in specified districts of the
state. Existing law requires the operator of a well, before
commencing the work of drilling the well, to file with the State Oil
and Gas Supervisor or the district deputy a written notice of
intention to commence drilling, and prohibits the commencement of
drilling until approval is given by the supervisor or the district
deputy.
   Existing law provides that the failure of the supervisor or the
district deputy to respond to the notice within 10 working days shall
be considered approval of the notice and the notice shall be deemed
a written report of the supervisor.
   This bill would, instead, provide that the failure of the
supervisor or the district deputy to respond to the notice within 9
working days shall be considered approval of the notice.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 3203 of the Public Resources Code is amended to
read:
   3203.  (a)  (1)    The operator of  any
  a  well, before commencing the work of drilling
the well, shall file with the supervisor or the district deputy a
written notice of intention to commence drilling. Drilling shall not
commence until approval is given by the supervisor or the district
deputy. If the supervisor or the district deputy fails to give the
operator written response to the notice within  10 
 nine  working days from the date of receipt, that failure
shall be considered as an approval of the notice and the notice, for
the purposes and intents of this chapter, shall be deemed a written
report of the supervisor. If operations have not commenced within one
year of receipt of the notice, the notice shall be deemed canceled.
 The 
    (2)     The  notice shall contain the
pertinent data the supervisor requires on printed forms supplied by
the division or on other forms acceptable to the supervisor. The
supervisor may require other pertinent information to supplement the
notice.
   (b) After the completion of  any   a 
well, this section also applies as far as may be, to the deepening or
redrilling of the well, any operation involving the plugging of the
well, or any  operations   operation 
permanently altering in any manner the casing of the well. The number
or designation of  any   a  well, and the
number or designation specified for  any   a
 well in a notice filed as required by this section, shall not
be changed without first obtaining a written consent of the
supervisor.
   (c) If an operator has failed to comply with an order of the
supervisor, the supervisor may deny approval of proposed well
operations until the operator brings its existing well operations
into compliance with the order. If an operator has failed to pay a
civil penalty, remedy a violation that it is required to remedy to
the satisfaction of the supervisor pursuant to an order issued under
Section 3236.5, or  to  pay any charges assessed
under Article 7 (commencing with Section 3400), the supervisor may
deny approval to the operator's proposed well operations until the
operator pays the civil penalty, remedies the violation to the
satisfaction of the supervisor, or pays the charges assessed under
Article 7 (commencing with Section 3400).