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Minutes for HB2022 - Committee on Appropriations
Short Title
Updating the state corporation commission's authority to regulate and determine responsibility for abandoned oil and gas wells and abolishing the well plugging assurance fund and transferring all assets and liabilities to the abandoned oil and gas well fund.
Minutes Content for Thu, Jan 21, 2021
Chairman Waymaster stated this is the same bill that was approved in committee last session, but due to the timeframe of the session, the bill was not debated on the House floor. An overview of the bill followed.
Nick Myers, Office of the Revisor of Statutes, presented the bill brief.The bill amends statutes relating to Kansas Corporation Commission's (KCC) oversight of abandoned oil and gas wells. The bill combines two abandoned well plugging funds thereby creating one abandoned well plugging fund. The bill also makes amendments to how the KCC determines who is legally responsible for an abandoned well and authorizes reimbursement for certain plugging operations.
Nick Myers responded to questions from Committee Members.
Dwight Keen, Commissioner, Kansas Corporation Commission, presented testimony as a proponent of the bill (Attachment 2).
Ryan Hoffman, Kansas Corporation Commission Oil and Gas Division, presented testimony as a proponent of the bill (Attachment 3).
David Bleakley, Chair, Kansas Oil and Gas Association, presented testimony as a proponent of the bill (Attachment 4).
Chris McGown, President, Eastern Kansas Oil and Gas Association, presented testimony as a proponent of the bill (Attachment 5).
Zack Pistora, Sierra Club, presented testimony as an opponent of the bill (Attachment 6).
Discussion followed by Committee members and presenters responded to their questions.
Chairman Waymaster closed the hearing on HB 2022. A review of the agenda for next week's committee meeting followed.
Meeting adjourned at: 10:52 a.m
