Section 14-114 – Rules, Regulations, and Orders of Department
(a) Except in an emergency, a rule, regulation, order, or amendment may not be made by the Department without a public hearing upon at least ten days’ notice. The public hearing shall be held at the time and place prescribed by the Department. Any interested person is entitled to be heard by the Department. (b) When an […]
Section 14-115 – Subpoenas
(a) The Department may summon witnesses, administer oaths, and require the production of records, books, and documents for examination at any hearing or investigation it conducts. (b) If any person fails or refuses to comply with a subpoena issued by the Department, or if any witness refuses to testify as to any matter regarding which the witness […]
Section 14-116 – Rehearings for Persons Adversely Affected by a Rule, Regulation, or Order of Department
Any person adversely affected by any rule, regulation, determination, or order of the Department may within 15 days after its effective date apply to the Department in writing for a rehearing. The application shall be acted upon within 15 days after its filing. The rehearing, if granted, shall be held promptly.
Section 14-117 – Appeal From Department’s Decisions
(a) Except as provided in § 14-105 of this subtitle, any person aggrieved by any action of the Department may apply to the circuit court of the county in which the person resides or the well is located for review of its decision. Any other interested party may intervene. The Department may become a party to […]
Section 14-118 – Injunctions
Upon application of the Department, verified by oath or affirmation, the circuit court of the county where the well is located, sitting in equity, may by injunction enforce compliance with, or restrain the violation of any order, notice, rule or regulation made under the provisions of this subtitle or restrain the violation or attempted violation […]
Section 14-119 – Gas to Be Metered
(a) A person who is the owner or operator of any gas well may not willfully take gas from the well unless the gas is metered by a standard metering system. The cleaning or blowing of a well is not construed as a “taking” within the meaning of this section. If any person or operator producing […]
Section 14-120 – Penalties
(a) For each offense, any person who willfully violates any provision of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction in a court of competent jurisdiction is subject to a fine of: (1) Up to $50,000; (2) An amount sufficient to cover the cost of damages resulting from all of the following caused by the permittee, […]
Section 14-121 – Inspection of Coalbed Methane Production
(a) The Department may make inspections as it determines necessary to ensure compliance with this subtitle. (b) In order to carry out an inspection in accordance with this section, the Department, or its authorized agents, may: (1) Conduct tests or sampling, or examine books, papers, and records that relate to any matter under an investigation in accordance with […]
Section 14-122 – Oil and Gas Fund
(a) There is an Oil and Gas Fund. (b) The Fund consists of: (1) Fees collected by the Department under § 14–105 of this subtitle; (2) Funds appropriated by the General Assembly for deposit to the Fund; (3) Fines and proceeds from financial assurance instruments collected by the Department in accordance with this subtitle that exceed the amount necessary to […]
Section 14-108 – Drilling Well and Disposing of Well’s Products — Denial of Permit
The Department shall deny the permit if the Department determines that: (1) The proposed operation shall violate a requirement of this subtitle or a regulation adopted under this subtitle; (2) The proposed drilling or well operation poses a substantial threat to public safety or a risk of significant adverse environmental impact to, but not limited to, the […]