1. A person shall not drill or operate an oil or gas well unless he or she first obtains a permit from the Division pursuant to this section.

2. Every person desiring to drill and operate an oil or gas well or requesting a change in the terms of an existing permit to drill and operate an oil or gas well must:

(a) Submit an application for a permit or for a request to change the terms of an existing permit, as applicable, to the Division on the form prescribed by the Division; and

(b) Pay the applicable fee prescribed pursuant to subsection 3.

3. The Commission on Mineral Resources shall prescribe by regulation the fees for a permit to drill and operate an oil or gas well and for a request to change the terms of an existing permit. The amount of each fee prescribed by the Commission may include the reasonable administrative costs of the Division relating to the filing and examination of applications for such permits or for requests for changes in the terms of such existing permits, as applicable, but the amount of the fee must not exceed:

(a) For a permit to drill and operate an oil or gas well that is not intended to be hydraulically fractured, $2,000.

(b) For a permit to drill and operate an oil or gas well that is intended to be hydraulically fractured, $5,000.

(c) For a request to change the terms of an existing permit to drill and operate an oil or gas well, $400.

4. The Division shall, as soon as practicable after receiving the proper application and fee, issue to the person a permit or change the terms of an existing permit, as applicable, unless the drilling or operation of the well is prohibited by any law or regulation or order of the Division.

5. The Division shall deposit with the State Treasurer, for credit to the Account for the Division of Minerals created pursuant to NRS 513.103, all money received pursuant to subsection 2.

[5:202:1953] — (NRS A 1977, 1151; 1983, 2080; 1993, 1689; 1999, 892, 3632; 2001, 66; 2015, 173)