The California Department of Conservation (DOC) has sent out public notice of proposed regulations for the use of well stimulation in oil and gas production. The public notice begins the formal rulemaking process and marks the beginning of a 60-day public comment period.

The regulations, which are to go into effect on January 1, 2015, are designed to protect health, safety and the environment, and supplement existing strong well construction standards. They address a comprehensive list of issues, including testing, monitoring, public notice, and permitting.

The Department also will have emergency regulations in place by January 1, 2014 to ensure the major requirements on SB 4 are addressed in the interim.

To read the proposed regulations and other material, to see a schedule of upcoming public meetings, or to learn how to make a comment on the proposed regulations that will go into the official rulemaking record, visit here or here online.

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Action is available here.