55-904. Disposal of salt water; penalties for violations. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, corporation, partnership or other association of persons:

(1) To knowingly and willfully dispose of or cause the disposal of salt water produced in conjunction with the production of oil or natural gas except in the manner and locations prescribed by K.S.A. 55-901 and 55-1003, and amendments thereto, and rules and regulations adopted pursuant to such sections, or as permitted by the commission;

(2) to dispose of any substance not exempt under 40 C.F.R. 261.4(b)(5), as revised July 1, 1997, in a class II disposal or injection well;

(3) to knowingly contract for the transportation of such salt water with a person, firm, corporation, partnership or other association of persons who is not licensed under the provisions of K.S.A. 66-1,114, and amendments thereto; or

(4) to own or operate any motor vehicle which, while being used for the transportation of such salt water, contains an operable "trip-lever" or similar device which is installed in such manner as to allow access to any person while riding in the passenger compartment of such vehicle.

(b) As used in this section "salt water" means water containing more than 5,000 milligrams per liter chlorides and produced in conjunction with the production of oil or natural gas.

(c) This section shall not be construed to prohibit the spreading of salt water on road beds under construction or maintenance if such spreading of salt water is performed in compliance with rules and regulations adopted by the secretary of the department of health and environment. The secretary shall be responsible for enforcing, by appropriate proceedings, such rules and regulations and shall immediately notify the appropriate county or district attorney of any actual or suspected violation of this section.

(d) Any person, firm, corporation, partnership or other association of persons who violates any provision of subsection (a) shall be guilty of:

(1) A severity level 9, nonperson felony; and

(2) a severity level 8, nonperson felony on a second or subsequent violation of subsection (a).

History: L. 1981, ch. 223, § 2; L. 1982, ch. 229, § 1; L. 1986, ch. 201, § 19; L. 1993, ch. 291, § 230; L. 1994, ch. 291, § 76; L. 1998, ch. 122, § 2; July 1.