Nebraska Administrative Code Topic - OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Here’s an enhanced overview of Nebraska Administrative Code – Topic: OIL AND GAS CONSERVATION COMMISSION (Title 267):
🏛️ Regulatory Structure – Title 267
Title 267 – Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is organized into seven chapters that govern the state’s oil, gas, underground injection, and carbon storage operations (law.cornell.edu):
Chapter 1 – Definitions (§267‑1‑001 to §267‑1‑025)
Defines key terms: “Commission,” “Well,” “Gas Well,” “Oil Well,” “Inactive Well,” etc. (law.cornell.edu, codes.findlaw.com)
Chapter 2 – General Rules (§267‑2‑001 to §267‑2‑010)
Applies statewide regulations and standards.
Chapter 3 – Drilling, Development, Producing and Abandonment (§267‑3‑001 to §267‑3‑044)
Covers permitting, spacing, drilling, completion, abandonment, and secondary recovery operations.
Chapter 4 – Underground Injection (§267‑4‑001 to §267‑4‑009)
Controls injection wells (e.g., for disposal or pressure maintenance).
Chapter 5 – Unit Operations and Approval of Unit Agreements (§267‑5‑001 to §267‑5‑002)
Addresses pooling, unitization, and cooperative development agreements.
Chapter 6 – Practice and Procedure (§267‑6‑001 to §267‑6‑008)
Explains hearing protocols, filing fees, notices, and appeals before the Commission.
Chapter 7 – Geologic Storage of Carbon Dioxide (§267‑7‑001 to §267‑7‑011)
Introduced after Nebraska's LB 650 (2021), this chapter sets rules for Class VI CO₂ injection, storage permits, bonding, monitoring, public hearings, and non-consenting interest compensation (law.cornell.edu, nebraska.gov, nebraskalegislature.gov).
🏛️ Statutory & Administrative Context
Statutory foundation: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 57‑901–923 empower the Commission—defining its structure, powers, and rulemaking authority (nebraskalegislature.gov).
Commission composition: A three-member, gubernatorially appointed board serving staggered four‑year terms. Mandated to regulate the industry, prevent waste, protect correlative rights, and oversee secondary recovery (nebraskalegislature.gov).
Inactive well provisions: Statute § 57‑923 mandates fees (up to $200/year) for wells inactive ≥2 years to fund plugging and abandonment (codes.findlaw.com).
🆕 Recent Amendments & Chapter 7 Additions
In late 2021, the Commission proposed and adopted significant updates—including Chapters 1, 3, 6—and created Chapter 7 for CO₂ storage regulations per LB 650 (nebraska.gov).
Chapter 7 defines geologic storage terms, application/hearing requirements, emergency plans, and bonding for Class VI injection wells—effective August 28, 2021 (nebraska.gov).
Summary Table
Chapter
Focus Area
1
Definitions & terms
2
General operational rules
3
Well drilling, spacing, abandonment
4
Underground injection standards
5
Unitization & pooling operations
6
Hearings, filings, procedures
7
CO₂ geologic storage permits & compliance
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