HOUSE BILL 471

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

INTRODUCED BY

Brian F. Egolf

AN ACT

ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF THE OIL AND GAS ACT THAT RECOGNIZES THE INHERENT AUTHORITY OF MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES TO REGULATE OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTIONS.

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] INHERENT AUTHORITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO REGULATE OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS.--The legislature recognizes the inherent authority of municipalities and counties to protect the health, safety and welfare of their residents by enacting ordinances protecting water and watersheds from oil and gas drilling, imposing reasonable bonding requirements on oil and gas drilling, production and other activities and otherwise regulating oil and gas operations within their respective zoning jurisdictions."

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