A. Access:
1. Vehicular access to a natural gas well, oil well or well pad solely via a residential street is prohibited unless it can be proven that the only viable vehicular access to the well site is via the residential route. The use of collector streets is preferred.
2. Valley County's adopted professional standards pertaining to minimum traffic sight distances for all access points shall be adhered to.
3. Access directly to state roads from a well site may require an Idaho transportation department (ITD) approach permit. Prior to initiating any work at a drill site, the Valley County planning and zoning department shall be provided a copy of the required approach permit.
4. Access directly to Valley County local streets shall require a Valley County road repair agreement prior to initiating any work at a well site. Operator shall comply with any generally applicable bonding and permitting requirements for Valley County roads that are to be used by vehicles for site construction, drilling activities and site operations.
B. Height:
1. There shall be an exception to the height restrictions contained in this section for the temporary placement of drilling rigs, drying tanks, pad drilling and other accessory uses necessary for the actual drilling or redrilling of an oil or gas well. The duration of such exemption shall not exceed the actual time period of drilling or redrilling of an oil or gas well or pad drilling.
C. Setbacks/Location:
1. Setback distances shall, at minimum, follow requirements listed in the IDL rules governing oil and gas conservation or a minimum of two hundred feet (200') from property lines.
2. Recognizing that the specific location of equipment and facilities is an integral part of the oil and gas development, and as part of the planning process, operator shall strive to consider the location of its temporary and permanent operations, where prudent and possible, so as to minimize interference with Valley County residents' enjoyment of their property and future Valley County development activities as authorized by the Valley County applicable ordinances.
3. Exception from the standards established in this subsection may be granted by Valley County upon good cause by the operator that it is not feasible to meet the setback requirements from surface tract property lines and that adequate safeguards have or will be provided to justify the exception.
D. Screening And Fencing:
1. Security fencing shall not be required at oil or gas well sites during the initial drilling, or redrilling operations, as long as manned twenty four (24) hour on site supervision and security are provided.
2. Upon completion of drilling or redrilling in residential or commercial zones, security fencing consisting of a permanent chainlink fence shall be promptly installed at the oil or gas well site to secure wellheads, storage tanks, separation facilities, water or liquid impoundment areas, and other mechanical and production equipment and structures on the oil or gas well site.
3. Valley County may use its discretion to determine whether fencing requirements shall be enforced for wellheads, storage tanks, separation facilities, and other mechanical and production equipment and structures on the oil or gas well site in those zones.
4. Security fencing shall be at least six feet (6') in height equipped with lockable gates at every access point and having openings no less than twelve feet (12') wide. Additional lockable gates used to access oil and gas well sites by foot may be allowed, as necessary.
5. Warning signs shall be placed on the fencing surrounding the oil or gas well site providing notice of the potential dangers and the contact information in case of an emergency. During drilling and hydraulic fracturing, clearly visible warning signage must be posted on the pad site.
6. In construction of oil or gas well sites, the natural surroundings should be considered and attempts made to preserve existing trees and other native vegetation. Existing trees and respective root systems should not be disturbed whenever possible. Reforestation/revegetation of the well site will be provided by the owner/operator as required by rules governing oil and gas conservation.
E. Lighting:
1. Lighting at the oil or gas well site, either temporary or permanent, shall be directed downward and inward toward the activity, to the extent practicable, so as to minimize the glare on public roads and adjacent properties.
F. Noise:
1. Valley County recognizes that oil and gas development is accompanied by inherent noise. However, the operator shall consider, to the extent possible, mitigation of noise resulting from the oil or gas well development.
G. Dust Control:
1. Operator shall control fugitive dust control arising from operations. Operator shall dustproof work area by sprinkling with water or a water/calcium chloride mixture where necessary.
H. Work Hours:
1. Site development, other than drilling, shall be conducted only between seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. and seven o'clock (7:00) P.M. Monday through Friday and nine o'clock (9:00) A.M. to five o'clock (5:00) P.M. on Saturday. Truck deliveries of equipment and materials associated with drilling and, well servicing, site preparation and other related work conducted on the site shall be limited to the above same work hour restrictions except in cases of an emergency. The operator may request an exception to this section for good cause shown. (Ord. 13-5, 9-16-2013)