20 AAC 25.170. Onshore location clearance

(a) At or after the time that a well drilled onshore is abandoned and before the earlier of one year after well abandonment or the expiration of the owner's rights in the property,

(1) the operator shall remove the wellhead equipment and casing to a depth at least three feet below original ground level and install a well abandonment marker in accordance with 20 AAC 25.120; and

(2) unless the operator demonstrates to the commission that the surface owner has authorized a different disposition to facilitate a genuine beneficial use, the operator shall

(A) remove all materials, supplies, structures, and installations from the location;

(B) remove all loose debris from the location;

(C) fill and grade all pits or close them in another manner approved by the commission as adequate to protect public health and safety; and

(D) leave the location in a clean and graded condition.

(b) If a well described in (a) of this section is located on state or federal land, and if the agency acting on behalf of the state or federal government as lessor approves a disposition different from that required under (a)(2) of this section, the commission will accept that disposition instead of requiring the operator to comply with (a)(2) of this section.

(1) if the Department of Natural Resources, as to a state lease, or the United States Department of the Interior, as to a federal lease approves a time period beyond one year after well abandonment for location clearance, the commission will set an identical time period for compliance with (a) of this section;

(2) the commission will grant an extension of time beyond one year after well abandonment, if the commission determines that the extension does not threaten public health or safety or the surface owner's interests, and that the operator does not seek an extension for purposes of delay; to seek an extension under this paragraph, the operator must submit an Application for Sundry Approvals (Form 10-403) stating

(A) a request for a specific extension not to exceed one year;

(B) the reason an extension is necessary;

(D) the expiration date of the owner's rights to enter the location.

(d) After the work required under (a) of this section has been completed at a location, the commission will, in its discretion, conduct an on-site inspection to verify the location condition at the time of inspection, including the presence of a proper well marker if above ground, as required under 20 AAC 25.120, and will provide the operator a report of the inspection.

History: Eff. 4/13/80, Register 74; am 4/2/86, Register 97; am 11/7/99, Register 152

Authority: AS 31.05.030

The Alaska Administrative Code was automatically converted to HTML from a plain text format. Every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy, but neither Touch N' Go Systems nor the Law Offices of James B. Gottstein can be held responsible for any possible errors. This version of the Alaska Administrative Code is current through June, 2006.

If it is critical that the precise terms of the Alaska Administrative Code be known, it is recommended that more formal sources be consulted. Recent editions of the Alaska Administrative Journal may be obtained from the Alaska Lieutenant Governor's Office on the world wide web. If any errors are found, please e-mail Touch N' Go systems at E-mail. We hope you find this information useful. Copyright 2006. Touch N' Go Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.