Fracking in Idaho: Brief History.... Bridge Resources, a Colorado-based company, drilled 11 commercial natural gas wells in western Idaho’s Payette County in 2011 under temporary state drilling rules, which used existing procedures in Wyoming as a model. Of 11 exploration wells, three were deemed immediately successful, four were deemed dry, and Bridge planned to mini-frack the remaining four. Payette County Commissioners rejected Bridge’s request for a conditional use permit in the company’s effort to build a 13-acre gas compression site to send 50 million cubic feet of gas into a commercial pipeline. Bridge said it would go to the state governor. In 2012 the Idaho House and Senate committees approved new rules to allow fracking, drawn up by the state Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. They took effect at the close of the legislative session in spring 2012. The rules would allow the use of carcinogenic materials, and allow drillers to not publicly disclose what fracking materials they would use as trade secrets. The rules also prevent counties from prohibiting drilling. Companies that use fracking will be required to dispose of their excess chemicals in specially lined pits. The legislation was co-authored by the Idaho Petroleum Council, a lobbyist organization representing drillers, and the Idaho Association of Counties. Kerry Ellen Elliott, lobbyist for the IAC, said while the proposed measure would still allow local governments to have a role in the permitting process, they could no longer say no to drilling. Snake River Oil and Gas, a subsidiary of Arkansas-based Weiser-Brown Oil Co., has leased roughly 30,000 acres of land in the state, mostly in the southwestern corner, with the intent of drilling for natural gas. ------HR 464 - signed into law in 2012 to provide for uniformity and consistency in the regulation of the production of oil and gas throughout the state of Idaho. Allows for fracking, the non-disclosure of chemicals used as industry trade secrets, and limit[s] local restrictions relating to oil and gas. Meaning the state/O&G companies decide where wells can be and county people and governments, including Boise and Ada, do not have a legal say.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 15:31:39 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015