13:1M-2. Permit to commence operations

Notwithstanding any requirements imposed pursuant to P.L. 1947, c. 377 (C. 58:4A-5 et seq.), or any other law, rule, or regulation, no person shall commence operations incident to the exploration and drilling of wells for oil or natural gas without having received a permit therefor from the Department of Environmental Protection. For the purposes of this act, "natural gas" shall not include methane or other hydrocarbon gases resulting from the decomposition of organic matter in solid waste at any landfill facility. Applications for this permit shall be made on forms prescribed and supplied by the department, and the applicant shall provide, in addition to any other information required by the department, the following:

a. The name and address of the owner, and if a corporation, the name and address of the statutory agent;

b. The signature of the owner or his authorized agent. When an authorized agent signs an application it shall be accompanied by a certified copy of his appointment as such agent;

c. The names and addresses of all persons holding the royalty interest in the tract upon which the well is located or is to be drilled or within a proposed drilling unit;

d. The location of the tract or drilling unit on which the well is located or is to be drilled, as identified by municipal tax map by lot and block;

e. Designation of the well by name and number;

f. The geological formation to be tested or used and the proposed total depth of the well;

g. The type of drilling equipment to be used;

h. The name of the New Jersey-licensed well driller or driller who supervises the drilling operations, as required by section 9 of P.L. 1947, c. 377 (C. 58:4A-13);

i. The name and address of the corporate surety and the identifying number of the bond required pursuant to section 5 of this act;

j. A plan for ground and surface water protection, which shall include a method for disposal of water and other waste substances--including brine--resulting, obtained, or produced in connection with the exploration and drilling for oil or natural gas;

k. A plan for casing, which shall include the type, method of installation and depth of installation of each string of casing and shall meet the State requirements for casing size, ASTM specifications, annulus between casing and borehole, and grouting requirements;

l. A plan for handling muds, which shall include specification of their characteristics, use, and testing;

m. A plan for safety, which shall include the installation of a blowout preventer, shut-off valves and other measures to be followed in the drilling of wells for oil or natural gas;

n. A plan for restoration of the land surface disturbed by operations incident to the exploration, drilling, and plugging and abandonment of wells for oil or natural gas, which shall comport with all restoration requirements adopted by the department pursuant to rule or regulation;

o. If the well is for the injection of a liquid, identity of the geological formation to be used as the injection medium and the composition of the liquid to be injected;

p. A sworn statement that the owner has in force, and will maintain until abandonment of any oil or gas well in this State, liability insurance coverage in an amount not less than $10,000,000.00 for bodily injury and $10,000,000.00 for property damage, to pay claims arising out of the drilling, operation, or plugging and abandonment of the wells; q. A sworn statement that all requirements of any municipality having jurisdiction over any activity related to the exploration, drilling and plugging and abandonment of any oil or gas well that have been filed with the department and are in effect at the time the application is filed, including but not limited to zoning ordinances and resolutions, will be complied with;

r. A description, by name or number, of the county, State, and municipal roads, streets, and highways that the applicant anticipates will be used for access to and egress from the well site; and

s. A map, on a scale not smaller than four hundred feet to the inch, prepared by a surveyor licensed in New Jersey, showing the location of the well and containing such other data as may be required by the department.

L. 1985, c. 432, s. 2, eff. Jan. 13, 1986.