Ohio § 1509.13

§ 1509.13.

(A)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (A)(2) of this section and division (E)(1) of section 1509.071 of the Revised Code , no person shall plug and abandon a well without having a permit to do so issued

by the chief of the division of oil and gas resources management.  The permit shall be issued by the chief in accordance with this chapter and shall

be valid for a period of twenty-four months from the date of issue. (2) The holder of a valid permit issued under section 1509.06 of the Revised Code may receive approval from an oil and gas resources inspector to plug and abandon

the well associated with that permit, without obtaining the permit required under

division (A) of this section, if either of the following apply: (a) The well was drilled to total depth and the well cannot or will not be completed. (b) The well is a lost hole or dry hole. (3) A permit holder plugging a well pursuant to division (A)(2)(a) of this section shall

plug the well within thirty days of receipt of approval from the oil and gas resources

inspector. (4) A permit holder plugging a well pursuant to division (A)(2)(b) of this section shall

plug the well immediately after determining that the well is a lost hole or dry hole

in accordance with rules adopted under this chapter. (B) The application for a permit to plug and abandon shall be filed as many days in advance

as will be necessary for an oil and gas resources inspector or, if the well is located

in a coal bearing township, both a deputy mine inspector and an oil and gas resources

inspector to be present at the plugging.  The application shall be filed with the chief upon a form that the chief prescribes

and shall contain the following information: (1) The name and address of the applicant; (2) The signature of the applicant or the applicant's authorized agent.  When an authorized agent signs an application, it shall be accompanied by a certified

copy of the appointment as that agent. (3) The location of the well identified by section or lot number, city, village, township,

and county; (4) Designation of well by name and number; (5) The total depth of the well to be plugged; (6) The date and amount of last production from the well; (7) Other information that the chief may require. (C) Unless waived by an oil and gas resources inspector, the owner of a well or the owner's

authorized representative shall notify an oil and gas resources inspector at least

twenty-four hours prior to the commencement of the plugging of a well.  No well shall be plugged and abandoned without an oil and gas resources inspector

present unless permission has been granted by the chief.  The owner of a well that has produced oil or gas shall give written notice at the

same time to the owner of the land upon which the well is located and to all lessors

that receive gas from the well pursuant to an agreement.  If the well penetrates or passes within one hundred feet of the excavations and

workings of a mine, the owner of the well shall give written notice to the owner or

lessee of that mine of the intention to abandon the well and of the time when the

owner of the well will be prepared to commence plugging it. (D) An applicant may file a request with the chief for expedited review of an application

for a permit to plug and abandon a well.  The chief may refuse to accept a request for expedited review if, in the chief's

judgment, acceptance of the request will prevent the issuance, within twenty-one days

of filing, of permits for which applications filed under section 1509.06 of the Revised Code are pending.  In addition to a complete application for a permit that meets the requirements of

this section, a request for expedited review shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable

filing fee of five hundred dollars unless the chief has ordered the applicant to plug

and abandon the well.  When a request for expedited review is filed, the chief shall immediately begin

to process the application and shall issue a permit within seven days of the filing

of the request unless the chief, by order, denies the application. (E)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (E)(2) of this section, any person undertaking

the plugging of a well for which a permit has been issued under this section shall

obtain insurance for bodily injury coverage and property damage coverage in the amount

established under section 1509.07 of the Revised Code to pay for damages or injury to property or person, including damages caused by the

plugging of the well.  The person shall electronically submit proof of insurance to the chief upon the

chief's request. (2) Division (E)(1) of this section does not apply to a person already required to maintain

an insurance policy under section 1509.07 of the Revised Code . (F) This section does not apply to a well plugged or abandoned in compliance with section 1571.05 of the Revised Code .