HB 31 OIL & GAS LIQUID SPILLS & PROTECTIONS

Rep Debra Mari Sarinana

Actions: HPREF [1] not prntd-HRC

Scheduled: Not Scheduled

 House Bill 31 (HB 31) provides penalties for the spill or release of oil, produced water or other nondomestic liquid wastes. It directs the Oil Conservation Division of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department to adopt rules relating to fresh water, produced water and nondomestic liquid wastes that are protective of public health, worker
safety and natural resources and requires tracking of produced water. HB 31 alphabetizes and adds four definitions to the Oil and Gas Act. It makes an appropriation of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000).
 

 House Bill 31 (HB 31) enacts a new section of the Oil and Gas Act (OGA) that provides for civil penalties for the spill, leak or other release into the environment of oil, produced water or other nondomestic liquid wastes resulting from certain oil and gas operations.  The amount of the penalty is based on the amount of barrels released.
It alphabetizes the definitions in Section 70-2-33 NMSA 1978 of the OGA and adds definitions for fresh water; recycled produced water; treated produced water; and water pollution to this section. 
HB 31 changes the rule making authority of the division from a permissive to a mandatory task. It defines the division’s rule making power for protection of public health, worker safety and the environment, including fresh water resources, with specific identification, operational, tracking and notice requirements. 
HB 31 appropriates seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000) from the General Fund (GF) to the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD) for expenditure in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 for the Oil Conservation Division (OCD) to hire five full-time employees to carry out the provisions of the OGA.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY 2025 reverts to the GF.

 

 Relates to HB 30