§81. Policy and purpose

            A. The legislature finds and declares that:

            (1) A present and future benefit to the environment, public health, safety, and welfare would be to clean up, close, and restore oilfield sites.

            (2) State laws and regulations must comprehensively address those situations where proper and timely cleanup, closure, and restoration of orphaned oilfield sites must be assured.

            NOTE: Subsection B eff. until July 1, 2025. See Acts 2024, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 16.

             B. It is in the public interest and within the police power of this state to establish an oilfield site restoration commission and an oilfield site restoration fund to provide for the proper and timely cleanup, closure, and restoration of oilfield sites, to be administered by the assistant secretary of the office of conservation within the Department of Energy and Natural Resources.

            NOTE: Subsection B as amended by Acts 2024, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 16, eff. July 1, 2025.

            B. It is in the public interest and within the police power of this state to establish an oilfield site restoration fund to provide for the proper and timely cleanup, closure, and restoration of oilfield sites, to be administered by the Department of Energy and Natural Resources.

            C. Nothing in this Part shall be deemed to alter or impair any rights and responsibilities established by contract between private parties.

            Acts 1993, No. 404, §2; Acts 2023, No. 150, §5, eff. Jan. 10, 2024; Acts 2024, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 16, §1, eff. July 1, 2025.