(A) Findings. The regulations contained in this chapter are supported by the following findings of fact:
(1) Oil and gas drilling and production is an important component of the city area economy.
(2) Oil and gas well drilling and production activities create conditions that potentially threaten the health, safety and general welfare of persons residing or working on property in proximity to such operations.
(3) Oil and gas well drilling and production activities, in the absence of local regulatory controls, may generate noxious aerial emissions, introduce contaminants into groundwater, emit high noise or light levels, produce large volumes of dust, congest local streets, present fire or chemical spill hazards and produce other deleterious effects, all of which fall disproportionately on adjacent land uses, and which can result individually or cumulatively in injury to persons or damage to property and inhibit the quiet peace and enjoyment of the surface uses of real property in the vicinity of such operations.
(4) The proliferation of oil and gas well pad sites within the city creates conflicts between such development and other existing and future surface uses of real property within the city. To assure the compatibility of residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural uses with oil and gas well development, it is necessary for the city to regulate the location of oil and gas well operations relative to other surface uses of real property within the city consistent with the right of mineral owners to reasonably access subsurface resources.
(5) The city recognizes that the Oklahoma Corporation Commission regulates oil and gas well drilling production activities. The regulations in this chapter are intended to supplement such standards and additionally implement compatible local measures that assure the health, safety and general welfare of the city’s residents and businesses.
(B) Purpose and intent. In order to protect the public health, peace, safety and welfare of the city and its residents, this chapter is created to establish reasonable and uniform limitations, safeguards and controls for the drilling and operation of wells and production of oil, gas and other hydrocarbon substances within the corporate limits of the city, and to provide that this land use may be conducted in harmony with other uses within the city. The provisions set forth in this chapter shall be considered as minimum requirements and shall not relieve any person from any duty imposed by law to use reasonable care and take reasonable precautions for the safeguarding of people and the protection of and noninterference with property rights.
(C) Authority. This chapter is adopted pursuant to authority vested under the constitution and laws of the state. Each authorization identified in this chapter shall be construed as an exercise of the city’s police, nuisance and zoning powers pursuant to the state statutes and this code of ordinances.
(Ord. 814, passed 6-11-2018; Ord. 815, passed 9-11-2018; Ord. 823, passed 10-9-2018)