Oklahoma Governor signs Oil and Gas Produced Water and Waste Recycling and Reuse Act into law

[Tom Kirkman + 8,860]

This is a good move.  A coordinated effort by a diverse range of interested parties to clarify the fairly messy legal morass about the political football  "swept under the carpet" issue of produced water responsibility and liability.

It would be great if more such coordinated actions were taken in oil & gas producing states, with environmentalists, government agencies, local oil & gas service companies, local business groups, and other local parties work together to amicably work out local legislation to address local oil and gas regulations.

Enough already with the Extinction Rebellion type Antifa protests that are solely intended to showboat for the media, and accomplish nothing except extremists breaking laws and getting away with it.

Get the adults in the room together and work out a way forward, toward an acceptable legal framework to actually address local issues.

But then again, that's probably way too idealistic to be realistic in most cases.

Anyway, here is a bit of good news this morning:

 

Governor signs Oil and Gas Produced Water and Waste Recycling and Reuse Act into law

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation designating who owns and is responsible for wastewater resulting from oil and natural gas drilling operations was signed into law on Tuesday by Gov. Kevin Stitt.

Authored by Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, Senate Bill 1875, also known as the Oil and Gas Produced Water and Waste Recycling Reuse Act, clarifies that produced water and waste is the property of the oil and gas producer until it is officially transferred to another person. It also shields liability from those who process wastewater into recycled water and/or transport this recycled water for further use in oil and gas production. 

By clarifying ownership and liability, the measure aims to attract entrepreneurs to innovate and invest in technology to process and treat oil and gas produced water and waste, resulting in a beneficial resource and a reduction in wastewater injection, Rader explained.

“This law is the result of unprecedented negotiations between oil, gas, agricultural and landowner stakeholders across the state,” Rader said. “We’ve all seen negative impacts of underground wastewater injection. It’s in the state’s best interest to cultivate, encourage and promote developments that allow for the economical treatment of wastewater so it can become a useful resource in the future. By clarifying ownership and liability, this law could help protect existing freshwater resources and groundwater from potential pollution.”

House author Rep. Terry O’Donnell, R-Catoosa, said the bill helps clarify an issue that until now was ambiguous in state statute.

“Such clarity will give Oklahoma a competitive edge in attracting entrepreneurs looking to turn wastewater into a reusable resource,” O’Donnell said. “This helps us create a stronger business environment as we continue to seek ways to diversify our state’s economy.”

Numerous groups came together to support this legislation, including the Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment; Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality; Oklahoma Farm Bureau; The Petroleum Alliance; Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association; State Chamber of Commerce; Environmental Federation of Oklahoma; Coalition of Surface Owners and Mineral Owners; and Lagoon Water Midstream.