SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The New Mexico Legislature may restore the state’s authority to impose administrative penalties of up to $10,000 per day against oil and natural gas companies for violations of operating and environmental rules.
A Senate panel is scheduled Tuesday to consider a bill that broadens civil enforcement of the state Oil and Gas Act and increases the current $1,000 maximum penalty for administrative violations.
A 2009 state Supreme Court decision held that the Oil Conservation Division was not authorized to assess civil penalties and had to file a lawsuit in court to enforce regulations for oil, gas and waste-water injection wells. Weaknesses in current enforcement provisions were highlighted last year by an out-of-state driller ignoring orders and lease provisions.
Texas allows daily penalties of $10,000, and Colorado can charge $15,000.
source: http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/pennenergy/2017/02/oil-and-gas-new-mexico-contemplates-new-powers-for-oil-regulators.html
