SENATE BILL 516

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2009

INTRODUCED BY

George K. Munoz

AN ACT

RELATING TO HYDROCARBON DEVELOPMENT; RESTRICTING THE AREA THAT CAN BE ENCLOSED AROUND OIL AND GAS DRILL AND WELL SITES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     Section 1. A new section of the Oil and Gas Act is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] PERIMETER FENCING.--

          A. An owner or producer, or an agent or employee of either, shall not erect fencing around the perimeter of a drill or well site that encompasses more area than is necessary to secure the drill or well site safely from unauthorized access and shall obtain the approval of the surface owner of the area to be fenced prior to erecting a perimeter fence unless the fence is erected pursuant to a rule of the oil conservation division of the energy, minerals and natural resources department.

          B. A rule promulgated pursuant to this section shall restrict perimeter fencing to the minimum area necessary to secure the drill or well site safely.

          C. For the purposes of this section, "drill or well site" means the surface area used during the drilling or reworking of an oil or gas well or any associated operations and includes the area of land in which oil and gas derricks, equipment, buildings, structures, improvements, wells, excavations, dumps, waste piles, ponds and other features normally used in oil and gas operations are located."

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