Bill > SB86

This bill: 1. Prohibits the use of fresh water for oil and gas well drilling and development at depths lower than protected fresh water resource zones, instead requiring operators to use produced water, recycled water, or treated water. 2. Imposes civil penalties for spills, leaks, or other releases of oil, gas, produced water, or other nondomestic wastes, with higher penalties for larger releases. The penalties will be deposited into a new Oil Conservation Division Data Compilation Fund to support the division's data collection, analysis, and public accessibility efforts. 3. Directs the Oil Conservation Division to adopt rules to protect public health, worker safety, and the environment, including requirements for identifying and publicly reporting the composition of produced water, regulating its management and disposal, and tracking its movement throughout oil and gas operations. 4. Amends the Oil and Gas Act to clarify and expand the division's regulatory authority over produced water, other nondomestic wastes, and oil treating and recycling facilities, with the aim of preventing water pollution. 5. Prohibits certain contractual provisions that would restrict the use of produced water, treated water, or recycled water in oil and gas operations. 6. Directs the Water Quality Control Commission to adopt rules for the discharge, handling, and disposition of treated produced water for activities unrelated to oil and gas, to ensure it does not result in water pollution.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Justice

https://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/legislation.aspx?chamber=S&legtype=B&legno=86&year=21