SB 314 — Advanced Well Stimulation Treatment

Florida Senate - 2019 CS for SB 314 By Senatorthe MontfordCommittee 3-00567A-19on 2019314__Environment Aand billNatural toResources; be entitled An act relating to advanced well stimulation treatment;

and Senators Montford, Stewart, and Berman 592-02363-19 2019314c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to advanced well stimulation treatment;

providingprohibiting legislativethe findings;performance of high-pressure well stimulation or matrix acidization;

prohibitingclarifying that permits for drilling or operating a well do not authorize the performance of high-pressure well stimulation treatments or matrix acidization;

clarifying that permits for drilling or operating a well do not authorize the performance of high-pressure well stimulation treatments or matrix acidization;

requiring the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a study on high-pressure well stimulation and matrix acidization;

providing requirements for the study;

requiring a report to the Governor and the Legislature by a specified date;

requiring the department to prominently post the report on its website;

providing an appropriation;

2113 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

2315 Section 1. Present subsections (6) through (10) and (11) through (32) of section 377.19, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (7) through (11) and (13) through (34), respectively, subsection (5) of that section is amended, and new subsections (6) and (12) are added to that section, to read:

377.2405 Advanced well stimulation treatments.— (1) LEGISLATIVE(1) PROHIBITION.—The FINDINGS.—Theperformance Legislatureof findshigh-pressure thatwell thestimulation integrityor ofmatrix Florida’sacidization aquifer is crucialprohibited forin waterthis supplystate. and for Florida’s natural systems.

As such, the Legislature finds that high-pressure well stimulation and matrix acidization must be prohibited in this state to protect the integrity of the aquifer.

(2) PROHIBITION.—The performance of high-pressure well stimulation or matrix acidization is prohibited in this state.

(3) STUDY.—The(2) APPLICABILITY.—This Departmentsection ofapplies Environmentalonly Protectionto shallwells conductregulated apursuant studyto onchapter high-pressure377. well stimulation and matrix acidization.

TheSection study3. This must:act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

(a) Evaluate the underlying geologic features present in each county where the department has approved or denied permits for oil or gas wells, including the potential impact that high pressure well stimulation and wellbore construction may have on the underlying geologic features in such counties.

(b) Evaluate the potential hazards and risks that high pressure well stimulation poses to surface water or groundwater resources.

The evaluation must consider all of the following:

1. The potential impacts of high-pressure well stimulation and matrix acidization on drinking water resources, including the main factors affecting the severity and frequency of the impacts.

2. The potential for the use or reuse of recycled water in well stimulation fluids while meeting appropriate water quality standards.

3. The toxicity of chemicals frequently used in these processes and an assessment of the rate of failure of wells for high-pressure well stimulation and matrix acidization on a national level.

(c) Review and evaluate the potential for groundwater contamination from conducting high-pressure well stimulation or matrix acidization under or near wells that have been previously plugged and abandoned.

(d) Identify a setback radius from previously plugged and abandoned wells that could be impacted by high-pressure well stimulation.

(e) Review and evaluate the ultimate disposition of high pressure well stimulation fluids after use in high-pressure well stimulation processes.

(f) Review and evaluate any air or land pollution associated with high-pressure well stimulation or matrix acidization.

(4) REPORT.—The department shall submit a report on the findings of the study required under subsection (3), and any recommendations, to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by June 30, 2021.

The department shall prominently post the report on its website.

(5) APPLICABILITY.—This section applies only to wells regulated pursuant to chapter 377.

Section 3. For the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the sum of $2 million in nonrecurring funds is appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a high-pressure well stimulation and matrix acidization study pursuant to s.

377.2405, Florida Statutes.

Section 4. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.