Debate: On what basis could state deny an oil or gas well permit?

Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, asked a series of questions of Sen. John Tippets, R-Montpelier, about HB 464, the oil/gas well bill. Among them: On what basis could the state deny a permit? Cameron said he met with the state Department of Lands, and was told permits could be denied only “based on a waste of resource. … I took from that that they would not be able to deny because it was a church parking lot, or because it was located on the town square park. That that, in itself, was not a reason” a permit for an oil or gas well could be denied.

Tippets responded, “You had a conversation that I haven’t had, and I don’t pretend to be an expert on the legalities. … Legally, on what grounds could they be denied a permit to drill? I’m not certain.” However, he said the well driller would have to negotiate with the owner of the mineral rights and the owner of the surface rights, and apply for a permit.

Sen. Jeff Siddoway, R-Terreton, told the Senate, “This is about development and production of oil and gas. It’s about uniformity and consistency.” He said, “It wouldn’t bother me one bit if we had an oil well right here at the bottom of the steps of the Capitol building, if the city of Boise would just  make us landscape it and put it under ground to make it pretty when we got done. … It wouldn’t bother me one bit.”