From
Cindy Mendez, Environmental Quality Manager
Title
Ordinance amending Chapter 13, Article 19 - Gas Drilling and Production Ordinance
Presenter
Cindy Mendez, Environmental Quality Manager
Recommended Action
Approve
Analysis
The city passed its' first Gas Drilling and Production Ordinance in 2005. In the past 15 years, Environmental Quality has revised the ordinance ten times as needed for aesthetics, public health, public safety, or for other reasons. The last ordinance update was in 2015. This ordinance seeks to address three issues: administrative variance for the drilling of the first well on the pad site, the requirement of a Surface Reclamation Plan, and post production inspections.
For operators, drilling wells with the current gas prices may not be feasible, however, securing a permit may be required for contractual reasons. Currently, operators must drill their first well within 180 days to validate the permit. The proposed change in this ordinance will allow administrative extensions for additional 180 day periods. This extension avoids the necessity of bringing a variance to city council.
The existing requirements when plugging and abandoning a well will be enhanced by requiring submittal of a Surface Reclamation plan which will provide valuable information on the operator's plan related to not only removing existing equipment and restoring the property, but also specifics as to how the land will be re-vegetated, the configuration of the reshaped topography, and other important planning information to ensure the well site is being appropriately returned to its original condition for use under the city comprehensive plan.
In addition, the ordinance will require a specific Post Production Inspection. Currently, inspections are done after plugging, but this inspection will be enhanced with monitoring for healthy and safety items which negatively impact the environment at or above the surface such as naturally occurring radioac...
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