The latest from the Spokesman Review on the oil and gas legislation CLICK HERE
Read the latest news from the Idaho Business Revew regarding the Oil and Gas Bill HERE
Click below to read the Chapter’s official response to the Oil and Gas Bill
Legislative Report
January 13, 2012
Draft Bill DRSBM049
This is a brief report to the Idaho Chapter membership on legislation that may be of concern. The draft bill was written by an industry group, the Idaho Petroleum Council, to give the State’s Oil and Gas Conservation Commission authority to expedite the extraction of oil and gas reserves which have been discovered in deep strata underlying western Idaho.
The proposed legislation would give the Commission new authority to regulate all aspects of oil and gas production, and more importantly it would prevent any local regulation of oil and gas wells, production and transportation facilities. While the text of the legislation says that it “shall not affect the planning and zoning authorities” of local government, it clearly would do just this.
The text of the bill dated January 9 is here: Oil and Gas Bill
The IDAPA Board has assigned its Legislative Liaison to work with his counterparts at the Association of Idaho Cities and Idaho Association of Counties on a joint position. The bill has not been read before a committee yet and will no doubt go through revisions.
We expect to have a letter from the Chapter President signed by the end of next week. Individual members may weigh in in this issue by commenting here (you must register for an account before you will be able to comment) Click here to register.
IDAPA encourages its members to engage the legislative process as individuals by contacting their representatives and by letters to the editor. IDAPA encourages its members to engage the legislative process as professionals by making their Planning Commissions, City/County Commissions and other elected or appointed officials aware of this issue.