WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 777

CHAPTER 777

(House Bill 296)

AN ACT concerning

Oil and Gas - Exploration, Drilling, and Storage - Generally

FOR the purpose of authorizing the Department of Natural
Resources to require certain environmental studies in
connection with an application for a permit to drill oil or
gas wells; providing for notice and an opportunity for a
hearing if the Department of Natural Resources receives an
application for a permit to drill certain oil or gas wells
in the State; providing a certain exception to the general
notice and hearing requirements; prohibiting a person from
obtaining certain permits for oil or gas wells or
exploration in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area unless
certain conditions are met; requiring the Chesapeake Bay
Critical Areas Commission to adopt certain regulations
relating to oil or natural gas drilling in the Chesapeake
Bay Critical Area; providing for administrative and judicial
review of certain actions of the Department; altering the
amounts of performance bonds for holders of a permit to
drill for oil or gas; requiring liability insurance coverage
in certain amounts for holders of a permit to drill for oil
or gas; allowing the Department to adopt certain regulations
under this Act; providing certain ways to post a performance
bond and to provide for self-insurance under this Act;
clarifying which units of State government need to issue a
permit for the disposal of any product of an oil or gas
well; making stylistic changes; and generally relating to
hearings, appeals, bonding, and liability insurance for the
exploration, drilling, production operations, or plugging of
oil or gas wells.

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,

Article - Natural Resources

Section 6-101, 6-103, 6-106, 6-107, 6-108, 6-110, 6-112, and

6-114
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1983 Replacement Volume and 1987 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article - Natural Resources

Section 6-102, 6-104, 6-105, 6-109, 6-111, and 6-113

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1983 Replacement Volume and 1987 Supplement)

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