BOISE, Idaho — An important agreement has been reached between the oil and gas industry and the association representing counties in Idaho. It’s the first state in the Northwest being considered for gas drilling.
The agreement between the Oil and Gas Industry and the Idaho Association of Counties means a fifth change to Idaho’s rules for natural gas drilling will be introduced in February in the Legislature.
Suzanne Budge with the Idaho Petroleum Council says this agreement means counties will have a voice in regulating the industry.
“They have their authority, they can have some input on the process but at the same time the technical expertise of the operation of an oil and gas well stays at the state level,” she says.
Budge says this is the fifth and final piece of legislation necessary to update Idaho’s outdated oil and gas regulations.
This final piece essentially fills in the gaps not addressed in four other rules being considered by lawmakers this year. Two revisions come from the Department of Lands and a third from the Public Utilities Commission. The fourth is the regulations supported by the Oil and Gas Commission.
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