Arkansas Code Title 15. Natural Resources and Economic Development § 15-76-306. Commission jurisdiction and authority

(1) Make reasonable investigations and inspections;

(2) Examine properties, leases, papers, books, and records;

(3) Examine, check, test, and gauge brine wells, injection wells, and pipelines;

(4) Hold hearings;

(5) Require the keeping of records and the making of reports; and

(6) Take such action as may be reasonably necessary to enforce this subchapter.

(1) To form brine production units and brine expansion units;

(2) To require the drilling, casing, and plugging of wells to be done in such a manner as to prevent the escape of brine and effluent from one stratum to another, to prevent the pollution of fresh water supplies by brine and effluent, and to require reasonable financial assurance acceptable to the commission conditioned for the performance of the duty to plug each dry hole or abandoned well;

(3) To require the making of reports showing the location of brine wells utilized for production and of injection wells used for disposal and the filing of logs and drilling records for those wells;

(4) To require the return of the brine to the same formation from which it was produced unless the commission authorizes the disposal of effluent into one (1) or more other formations upon finding that neither underground damage nor waste results from the disposal;

(5) To prevent the drowning by brine and effluent of any stratum or part of a stratum capable of producing oil or gas in paying quantities;

(6) To prevent “blowouts”, “caving”, and “seepage” in the sense that conditions indicated by these terms are generally understood;

(7) To identify the ownership of all wells utilized for producing brine and of all injection wells and all pipelines, plants, ponds, structures, and storage facilities;

(8) To regulate the “shooting”, perforating, and chemical treatment of wells;

(9) To regulate the introduction or injection of effluent and other substances into an aquifer;

(11) To formulate rules for the proper transportation of brine from the producing wells to the plant and from the plant to the injection wells and for the maintenance and surveillance of the transportation facilities; and

(12) To prevent, so far as is practical, reasonably avoidable drainage between brine production units and brine expansion units.

(d)(1) The commission is authorized to assess each producer of brine a charge not to exceed fifty cents (50¢) on each one thousand (1,000) barrels, each of which contains forty-two (42) United States gallons, of brine produced and saved or sold for purposes of the extraction of chemical substances therefrom.

(2) All moneys so collected shall be deposited into the Oil and Gas Commission Fund and used solely to pay the expenses and other costs of the commission.