§ 14-105. Drilling well and disposing of well's products -- Application for permit

   (a) In general. --

   (1) An applicant for a permit to drill a well under § 14-104 of this subtitle shall submit an application in a manner satisfactory to the Department.

   (2) The application for a permit to drill a well under § 14-104 of this subtitle and each application for a permit renewal shall include a closure cost estimate for the proper sealing and plugging of the gas or oil well and reclamation of the site.

(b) Fees. -- The Department shall establish and collect fees for:

   (1) The issuance of a permit to drill a well under § 14-104 of this subtitle;

   (2) The renewal of a permit to drill a well under § 14-104 of this subtitle; and

   (3) The production of oil and gas wells installed after October 1, 2010.

(c) Fees -- Rate. -- The fees imposed under subsection (b) of this section shall be set by the Department at the rate necessary to implement the purposes set forth in § 14-123 of this subtitle.

(d) Fees -- Reduction. -- In any fiscal year, if the fee schedule established by the Department generates revenue that exceeds the amount necessary to operate a regulatory program to oversee the drilling of oil and gas wells, the Department shall reduce the fees in the following fiscal year.

(e) Fees -- Deposit. -- The fees collected by the Department under this section shall be deposited in the Oil and Gas Fund established under § 14-122 of this subtitle.

(f) Notice and review. -- The Department shall provide public notice, public informational hearings, and judicial review in accordance with the provisions of § 5-204 of this article.

HISTORY: 1988, ch. 777; 1993, ch. 367; 1994, ch. 739, § 2; 1995, ch. 488, § 2, 8; 2009, ch. 650, § 2; ch. 651, § 2; 2010, ch. 383; 2013, ch. 568.