A. No oil or gas well site, or an addition to an existing oil or gas well site, shall be constructed or located within Payette County unless an oil or gas well permit subject to the provisions under this chapter has been issued by the county to the applicant approving the construction or preparation of the site for oil or gas development.
B. Each application shall be submitted with the fee established pursuant to resolution of the county as adopted. Such fee shall be reasonably related to the cost of administering this chapter.
C. Any modification to an existing and/or permitted oil or gas well site that materially alters the size, location, number of wells or accessory equipment or structures, shall require a modification of the permit under this chapter. Like-kind replacements shall not require a permit modification.
D. Wells that were permitted and constructed prior to the adoption of this chapter shall not be required to meet the requirements of this chapter. Any modification to an existing or permitted oil or gas well site that occurs after the effective date hereof and materially alters the size, type, location, number of wells and other accessory equipment or structures, shall require compliance with this chapter.
E. Upon receiving notice from the department that an application has been submitted, the county will publish a summary of the proposal in the official newspaper or paper of general circulation within the jurisdiction that an application for a new oil and gas well has been filed with the county planning and zoning department. The notice is for informational purposes only and will not solicit any public comments on the application.
F. An oil or gas well permit shall not be required for exploration for oil or gas. Exploration of oil and gas means geologic or geophysical activities, including, but not limited to surveying and seismic exploration, related to the search for oil, gas, or other subsurface hydrocarbons.
G. If an applicant does not conduct said business for a period of two (2) years, the oil and gas well permit shall be null and void. Permits issued under this chapter shall not be transferable to any other applicant, except by a majority vote of the board of county commissioners, and the filing of an application by the applicant to whom such license is, or may be, transferred or assigned. (Ord. 2013-02, 8-5-2013)