Bill > HB2535

This bill makes several changes to Tennessee law regarding oil and gas drilling operations, primarily by updating definitions, clarifying procedural requirements, and strengthening enforcement mechanisms. Key provisions include redefining "operator" to encompass those responsible for various stages of well management, clarifying that "person" includes various entities, and replacing the term "crude petroleum" with "oil" throughout the relevant statutes. The bill also mandates that surface disturbances related to drilling cannot occur until a permit application is submitted and that permits will not be issued until certain conditions are met, including a reduced buffer zone of one-fourth mile from streams. Furthermore, it clarifies that operating a well requires a permit and that failure to comply with an approved operator's plan can lead to suspension of operations, permit revocation, bond forfeiture, or civil penalties. The bill also establishes a new process for notifying property owners of proposed drilling sites and surface disturbances, requiring their consent or a court order for a permit to be issued, and outlines a more detailed procedure for assessing civil penalties and forfeiting bonds, including considerations for penalty amounts and appeal processes. Finally, it revises reclamation requirements for disturbed areas and access roads, specifies how reclamation bonds are released, and transfers the Mineral Test Hole Regulatory Act into a new chapter within Title 59.