27-515. Administration; powers of the commission; fees

A. The commission shall administer and enforce this article and other laws relating to conservation of oil and gas. The commission and administrative staff, at any time, may enter property and inspect wells drilled for oil or gas, and well records, and shall control property, machinery and appliances necessary to gauge the wells. The department of environmental quality shall provide staff support to the commission to administer this chapter.

B. The commission may:

1. Administer oaths to a witness in any hearing, investigation or proceeding held under this article or any other law relating to conservation of oil and gas.

2. Issue subpoenas requiring attendance and testimony of witnesses and production of books, papers and records deemed material or necessary, and direct service of subpoenas by a sheriff or other officer authorized by law to serve process.

3. Prescribe rules and do all acts necessary or advisable to carry out this article.

4. Collect fees to cover the costs of services, including reproduction of records or any portion of records and copies of rules. The monies collected are not subject to section 27-523 but shall be deposited, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, by the commission in the fund from which the expenditure was originally made.

5. Publish technical maps, cross sections and reports and sell these materials for fees that will cover the costs incurred in their preparation, reproduction and distribution.

C. The commission may enter into cooperative agreements with agencies of the United States government, with agencies of state or local government or with Indian tribes for the purpose of protection of the fresh water supplies of this state from contamination or pollution brought about by the drilling of any well or for any other purpose of this article.

D. The commission may apply for and accept gifts, devises and donations of books, well records, maps or other materials. All donated materials shall become public records.

E. Monies collected under subsection B, paragraph 5 of this section are not subject to section 27-523 but shall be deposited, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, in the permit administration fund established by section 49-455 and shall be used to prepare, reproduce and distribute further publications.