New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 19 - NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE
Chapter 15 - OIL AND GAS
Part 14 - DRILLING PERMITS
Section 19.15.14.10 - APPROVAL OR DENIAL OF A PERMIT TO DRILL, DEEPEN OR PLUG BACK
Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 24, December 23, 2024
A. The director or the director's designee may deny a permit to drill, deepen or plug back if the applicant is not in compliance with Subsection A of 19.15.5.9 NMAC. In determining whether to grant or deny the permit, the director or the director's designee shall consider such factors as whether the non-compliance with Subsection A of 19.15.5.9 NMAC is caused by the operator not meeting the financial assurance requirements of 19.15.8 NMAC, being subject to a division or commission order finding the operator to be in violation of an order requiring corrective action, having a penalty assessment that has been unpaid for more than 70 days since the issuance of the order assessing the penalty or having more than the allowed number of wells out of compliance with 19.15.25.8 NMAC. If the non-compliance is caused by the operator having more than the allowed number of wells not in compliance with 19.15.25.8 NMAC, the director or director's designee shall consider the number of wells not in compliance, the length of time the wells have been out of compliance and the operator's efforts to bring the wells into compliance.
B. The division may impose conditions on an approved permit to drill, deepen or plug back.
C. If the division denies the permit it shall return the form C-101 to the applicant with the cause for rejection stated.
