HOUSE 3rd Reading Unamended May 1, 2013 HOUSE Amended 2nd Reading April 30, 2013First Regular Session Sixty-ninth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO REENGROSSED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted in the House of Introduction LLS NO. 13-0952.01 Thomas Morris x4218 HOUSE BILL 13-1316 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Hullinghorst and Salazar, Young SENATE SPONSORSHIP Ulibarri, House Committees Senate Committees Health, Insurance & Environment Appropriations A BILL FOR AN ACT Concerning the Colorado oil and gas conservation commission's adoption of uniform statewide groundwater sampling rules, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation. Bill Summary (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.) The Colorado oil and gas conservation commission recently adopted rules that require oil and gas operators to conduct groundwater sampling but specify less rigorous standards for particular areas of the state. The bill requires the commission to adopt uniform statewide groundwater sampling rules that obligate operators to sample groundwater sources at specified intervals before and after drilling of a well. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 34-60-106, amend (2) (d) as follows: 34-60-106. Additional powers of commission - rules. (2) The commission has the authority to regulate: (d) (I) Oil and gas operations so as to prevent and mitigate significant adverse environmental impacts on any air, water, soil, or biological resource resulting from oil and gas operations to the extent necessary to protect public health, safety, and welfare, including protection of the environment and wildlife resources, taking into consideration cost-effectiveness and technical feasibility. (II) The commission shall not exempt the greater Wattenberg area from an otherwise generally applicable statewide water quality sampling rule. SECTION 2. Appropriation. (1) In addition to any other appropriation, there is hereby appropriated, out of any moneys in the oil and gas conservation and environmental response fund created in section 34-60-122 (5), Colorado Revised Statutes, not otherwise appropriated, to the department of natural resources, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2013, the sum of $927, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to be allocated to the executive director's office for the purchase of legal services associated with the implementation of this act. (2) In addition to any other appropriation, there is hereby appropriated to the department of law, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2013, the sum of $927, or so much thereof as may be necessary, for the provision of legal services for the department of natural resources related to the implementation of this act. Said sum is from reappropriated funds received from the department of natural resources out of the appropriation made in subsection (1) of this section. (3) In addition to any other appropriation, there is hereby appropriated, out of any moneys in the oil and gas conservation and environmental response fund created in section 34-60-122 (5), Colorado Revised Statutes, not otherwise appropriated, to the department of natural resources, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2013, the sum of $17,616 and 0.1 FTE, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to be allocated to the oil and gas conservation commission for program costs associated with the implementation of this act as follows: (a) $10,614 and 0.1 FTE for personal services; and (b) $7,002 for operating expenses. SECTION 3. Act subject to petition - effective date - applicability. (1) This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August 7, 2013, if adjournment sine die is on May 8, 2013); except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2014 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor. (2) This act applies to conduct occurring on or after the applicable effective date of this act.