Oil and Gas Hearing Notices
Air Date:01/23/2012
By Jenifer Jones
The State House of Representatives passed a bill that aims to simplify the oil and gas permitting process. Representative Thomas Brunner says House Bill 1012 changes the procedure to require public hearings for applications for oil and gas orders only if contested, and reduces the number of hearing notice publications required. Brunner says with the bill, hearing notices only need to be published in the county affected by the order.
"By doing this, we reduce the newspaper publication, will not reduce notice because applicants are already required to provide a hearing notice by certified mail by a property interest affected by the order," Brunner says. "Plus hearing notices are routinely posted on DENR's oil and gas website, and are emailed to its oil and gas interested persons list. So there are plenty of opportunities for notice."
Opponents say the bill erodes the public's right to know about public hearings. The bill passed by a vote of 49 to 17.
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