2017 SB 307 Oil & Gas Act Powers & Penalties

CVNM Position:

Support

Priority:

CVNM Priority Vote

Year:

2017

Sponsors:

Richard C. Martinez

Topics:

Air Quality
Effective Government
Water

Legislative Info:

SB 307 on nmlegis.gov »

Description

SB 307 would have re-established administrative and civil penalty authority for the Oil Conservation Division (OCD) to pursue violations of the Oil and Gas Act that result in discharge of contaminants. This authority was lost in the Marbob Energy Corp. v. N.M. Oil Conservation Comm. case. The court determined that legislature needed to give the authority to OCD to collect these penalties, and that OCD could not grant the authority to itself. This bill would have addressed a clear need in OCD’s regulatory enforcement scheme.

Outcome

SB 307 died in the Senate Finance Committee.