2019 SB 186 Oil Conservation Division Powers & Duties

CVNM Position:

Support

Priority:

CVNM Priority Vote

Year:

2019

Sponsors:

Richard C. Martinez
Matthew McQueen

Topics:

Air Quality
Land
Water

Legislative Info:

SB 186 on nmlegis.gov »

Description

SB 186 would have allowed the Oil Conservation Division to, when responding to a violation of the Oil & Gas Act, issue a compliance order requiring compliance immediately or within a specified time period or assessing a civil penalty, or both. A compliance order may have also included a suspension or termination of the permit allegedly violated. It specified higher civil penalties for violation of the Act and specified penalties for the violation of a compliance order. It specified that a person knowingly violating the Act has committed a third degree felony. It further required the Oil Conservation Division to report on the number of violations annually.

Outcome

SB 186 died on the Senate Finance Committee calendar. However, its language and the policies it created were inserted into a House bill, which CVNM did not take a position on, and that bill passed both the House and Senate.