74-623. Jurisdiction to regulate oil and gas activities with corporation commission; transfer of powers to commission from department of health and environment; contracts, rules and regulations and orders remain in effect. (a) The state corporation commission shall have the exclusive jurisdiction and authority to regulate oil and gas activities. The state corporation commission's jurisdiction shall include: (1) All practices involved in the exploration for and gathering of oil and gas and the drilling, production, lease storage, treatment, abandonment and postabandonment of oil and gas wells; (2) underground porosity storage of natural gas, as defined in K.S.A. 55-1,115, and amendments thereto; and (3) prevention and cleanup of pollution of the soils and waters of the state from oil and gas activities described in (1) or (2).

The state corporation commission shall not have jurisdiction over the refining, treating or storing of oil or gas after transporting of such oil or gas, except for the storing of natural gas described in (2).

(b) All jurisdiction and authority of the Kansas department of health and environment relating to the cleanup of pollution of the soils and waters of the state from oil and gas activities described in subsection (a) is hereby transferred to the state corporation commission.

(c) The state corporation commission shall be the successor in every way to the powers, duties and functions of the Kansas department of health and environment relating to the cleanup of pollution of the soils and waters of the state from oil and gas activities described in subsection (a). Every act performed in the exercise of such powers, duties and functions by or under authority of the state corporation commission shall be deemed to have the same force and effect as if performed by the department of health and environment.

(d) Whenever the Kansas department of health and environment, or words of like effect, is referred to or designated by a statute, contract or other document relating to the cleanup of pollution of the soils and waters of the state from oil and gas activities described in subsection (a), such reference shall be deemed to apply to the state corporation commission.

(e) All rules and regulations of the secretary of health and environment which are in existence on July 1, 1995, and relate to the cleanup of pollution of the soils and waters of the state from oil and gas activities described in subsection (a) shall continue to be effective and shall be deemed to be the duly adopted rules and regulations of the state corporation commission until revised, amended, revoked or nullified pursuant to law.

(f) All orders and directives of the Kansas department of health and environment which are in existence on July 1, 1995, and relate to the cleanup of pollution of the soils and waters of the state from oil and gas activities described in subsection (a) shall continue to be effective and shall be deemed to be orders and directives of the state corporation commission until revised, amended, revoked or nullified pursuant to law.

History: L. 1986, ch. 201, § 1; L. 1995, ch. 204, § 14; L. 2001, ch. 191, § 16; July 1.