Purpose of the Bill

The proposed legislation aims to establish a structured and environmentally responsible framework for developing Minnesota's gas resources, ensuring adherence to natural resource management, environmental protection, and public health standards.

Main Provisions

• Financial Assurance Accounts: The bill proposes the creation of financial assurance accounts for gas resource development permits, managed by the State Board of Investment, to ensure funds are available for any environmental reclamation needed post-mining activities.
• State Wilderness Areas: It allows commercial development of gas resources without disturbing the surface in state wilderness areas, maintaining their pristine condition.
• Permit and Rulemaking Requirements: A permit is required from the Commissioner of Natural Resources for gas or oil production, ensuring rules are adopted for resource management, environmental protection, and worker safety.
• Spacing and Pooling: Establishes requirements for coordinating multiple landowners and lessees in developing gas resources efficiently, preventing waste, and protecting correlative rights (rights related to shared gas pools).
• Environmental Protection: Sets strict rules for environmental reviews and operational procedures before gas and oil exploration, including bans on activities near sensitive or protected areas like national parks and wildlife refuges.
• Construction and Maintenance of Gas Wells: Detailed technical requirements for constructing and sealing gas wells, including necessary licenses for contractors and restrictions on well conversions.
• Fee Structures: Implements various fees associated with the permits, rules, and operation oversight, to fund the regulatory and enforcement activities needed to manage gas resource development.
• Penalties: Establishes civil and criminal penalties for regulatory non-compliance, with the possibility of fines and potential legal action for violators.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• The bill introduces new regulatory layers and definitions in the Minnesota Statutes, defining gas wells, contractors, and specifics around exploratory borings.
• Amends previous statutory sections related to natural resource protection and financial assurance from mining permits, now extended to include gas resource development.
• Allocates appropriated funds for the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Health to manage and enforce the new regulations, including staffing for inspections and enforcement.

Relevant Terms

• Gas Resource Development
• Financial Assurance
• State Wilderness Area
• Environmental Protection
• Spacing and Pooling Units
• Permit Requirement
• Groundwater Protection
• Hydraulic Fracturing
• Exploration and Production Waste