Washington Administrative Code Title 344 - Oil and Gas Conservation Committee
Here’s an overview of WAC Title 344: Oil and Gas Conservation Committee:
📘 Title 344 — Structure & Chapters
Title 344 governs the Oil and Gas Conservation Committee under RCW 78.52. It consists of three main chapters:
Chapter 344‑12 – General rules
Chapter 344‑16 – Offshore sampling permits
Chapter 344‑18 – SEPA guidelines
1. Chapter 344‑12: General Rules
Authority & Promulgation (344‑12‑001 to ‑015): Implements statewide rules under RCW 78.52; outlines how general and special orders are issued, including emergency rules (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov).
Hearings (344‑12‑020 to ‑030): Describes open-to-public hearings, notice requirements, location (typically Olympia), and timelines (within 20 days post-hearing) (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov).
Committee Roles (344‑12‑035): The WA Department of Natural Resources, via the state oil and gas supervisor, administers enforcement (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov).
Technical & Production Standards: Defines terms like “barrel,” “blow‑out preventer,” mandates safety equipment and procedures (e.g. chokes, separators, plugging wells), and grants committee access to well sites and records (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov).
2. Chapter 344‑16: Offshore Sampling Permits
Covers rules for offshore geological sampling:
Permit Application & Fees (344‑16‑010 to ‑015): $50/year permit with additional observer costs (~$407/month) (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov).
Permit Conditions (344‑16‑020 to ‑025): Vessels must carry the permit, safety gear, and a DNR observer; site restoration required after drilling (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov).
Drilling Depth Limit (344‑16‑030): Up to 500 ft into ocean floor (max 1,000 ft for rock sampling) (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov).
Violations (344‑16‑040): Non‑compliance can lead to permit termination (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov).
3. Chapter 344‑18: SEPA Guidelines
Integrates State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requirements:
SEPA Adoption (344‑18‑010 to ‑020): Officially adopts WAC 197‑11 SEPA rules for committee actions (lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov).
Definitions & Process (344‑18‑030 to ‑040): Clarifies roles (e.g. “environmental coordinator,” “commissioner”) and the purpose/threshold of environmental review .
Further SEPA Provisions: Addresses coordination, timing, public notice, EIS, etc., following SEPA standards .
✅ Summary
Title 344 sets comprehensive regulatory guidance for oil and gas operations in Washington, covering:
Internal procedures and safety standards (Chapter 12)
Permitting for offshore geological work (Chapter 16)
Environmental review obligations under SEPA (Chapter 18)
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