California Senate Bill SB571 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 571AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 28, 2009 INTRODUCED BY Senator Maldonado FEBRUARY 27, 2009 An act to add Section 3724.32 to the Public Resources Code, relating to public resources. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 571, as amended, Maldonado. Geothermal resources.  (1) Existing law allows the State Oil and Gas Supervisor to order certain operations to be carried out on a property in the vicinity of which, or on which, is located an oil or gas well that the supervisor determines to be either hazardous or an idle-deserted well.   This bill would authorize the supervisor to deny approval of proposed well operations until the well operator complies with the above order.   (2) Existing   Existing  law imposes a civil penalty on an oil or gas well operator when a violation of geothermal regulations has occurred. Existing law requires the State Oil and Gas Supervisor to investigate complaints against a well and, when necessary, to issue an order to the well operator stating the work required to repair the damage complained of. Existing law also requires the supervisor to establish an annual well fee, and penalties for late payment. This bill would authorize the supervisor to deny approval of proposed well operations until the operator pays the civil penalty,  remedies the violation to the satisfaction of the supervisor   complies with the order  , or pays the required well fee. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 3724.32 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:  3724.32. (a) When an operator fails to comply with an order of the supervisor issued pursuant to Section 3255, the supervisor may deny approval of proposed well operations until the operator brings existing well operations into compliance with the order. (b)   3724.32.  When an operator fails to pay a civil penalty imposed pursuant to Section 3754.5, comply with an order  issued under Section 3753 to remedy or repair a condition found to be in violation of the chapter   of the supervisor issued pursuant to this chapter  , or pay a charge assessed under Section 3724.5, the supervisor may deny approval of the operator's proposed well operations until the operator pays the civil penalty,  remedies the violation to the satisfaction   complies with the order  of the supervisor, or pays the charge assessed under Section 3724.5.