R 324.201
R 324.201 Application for permit to drill and operate requirements; issuance of permit.
Cite as Mich. Admin. Code R 324.201
Rule 201. (1) Until a person has complied with the requirements of subrule (2) of this
rule, a person shall not begin the drilling or operation of a well for any of the following:
(a) Oil or gas, or both.
(b) Injection for secondary recovery.
(c) Injection for the disposal of brine, oil or gas field waste, or other fluids incidental to
the drilling, producing, or treating of wells for oil or gas, or both, or the storage of natural
hydrocarbons or liquefied petroleum gas derived from oil or gas.
(d) Injection or withdrawal for the storage of natural dry gas or oil well gas.
(e) Injection or withdrawal for the storage of liquid hydrocarbons or liquefied petroleum
gas.
(2) A permit applicant shall comply with all of the following permit application
requirements:
(a) The exact well location shall be surveyed by a surveyor licensed in this state, a readily
visible stake or marker shall be set at the well location, and a flagged route shall be
established to the well location.
(b) The survey required by subdivision (a) of this subrule shall include a plat that shows
all of the following:
(i) The correct well location and bottom hole location description.
(ii) A flagged route or explanation of how the well location may be reached.
(iii) Footages from the nearest section, quarter section, and drilling unit lines.
(iv) Information relative to the approximate distances and directions from the stake or
marker to special hazards or conditions, including all of the following:
(A) Surface waters and other environmentally sensitive areas within 1,320 feet of the
proposed well. Environmentally sensitive areas are identified by the department pursuant
to applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
(B) Floodplains associated with surface waters within 1,320 feet of the proposed well.
(C) Wetlands, as identified by the provisions of sections 30301 to 30323 of the act,
within 1,320 feet of the proposed well.
(D) Natural rivers, as identified by the provisions of sections 30501 to 30515 of the
act, within 1,320 feet of the proposed well.
(E) Critical dune areas, as designated by the provisions of sections 35301 to 35326 of
the act, within 1,320 feet of the proposed well.
(F) Threatened or endangered species, as identified by the provisions of sections
36501 to 36507 of the act, within 1,320 feet of the proposed well.
(G) All buildings, recorded fresh water wells and reasonably identifiable fresh water
wells utilized for human consumption, public roads, pipelines, and power lines that lie
within 600 feet of the proposed well location.
(H) All public water supply wells identified as type I and IIa that lie within 2,000 feet
of the proposed well location and type IIb and III that lie within 800 feet of the proposed
well location, as defined in 1976 PA 399, MCL 325.1001 to 325.1023.
(I) Identification of the existing local zoning designation of the surface location of the
well.
(c) If the applicant intends to utilize high volume hydraulic fracturing, the application
shall include a list showing the specific identity and associated CAS number of each
chemical constituent the applicant anticipates will be added to the primary carrier fluid,
except that the specific identities and CAS numbers of trade secret chemicals may be
withheld under the provisions of paragraph (i) of this rule.
(i) If the specific identity of a chemical constituent and its associated CAS number are
a trade secret, the applicant may withhold the specific identity of the chemical constituent
and its associated CAS number, but shall list the chemical family associated with the
chemical constituent, or provide a similar description, and provide a statement that a claim
of trade secret protection has been made by the entity entitled to make such a claim.
(ii) Listing of a chemical constituent under the requirements of this subdivision does
not preclude a permittee from utilizing other chemical constituents in a high volume
hydraulic fracturing operation; however, the chemical constituents actually used shall be
submitted under the requirements of rule 1406 of these rules.
(d) One signed and sealed copy of the survey, on a form prescribed by the supervisor,
shall be filed with an application for a permit to drill and operate or e-filed using a
procedure approved by the supervisor.
(e) A person applying to drill and operate a well shall completely and accurately fill out,
sign, and file a written application for a permit to drill on a form prescribed by the
supervisor or e-filed using a procedure approved by the supervisor. The application shall
be submitted to the supervisor at the offices of the Michigan Department of Environmental
Quality, Office of Oil, Gas, and Minerals, P.O. Box 30256, Lansing, Michigan 48909, and
a copy of the first page of the permit application shall be mailed to the clerk of the county
and the surface owner of record of the land on which the well location is to be located
within 7 days of submitting the permit application by first-class United States mail
addressed to the surface owner's last known address as evidenced by the current property
tax roll records.
(f) When the proposed well location is in or adjacent to any areas described in
subdivision (b)(iv)(A) or (B) of this subrule, a person shall file for and obtain all applicable
permits from the department of environmental quality before developing the well site or
access to the well site or before drilling of the well. The person shall also file for and obtain
any additional permits that may be required before the installation of flow lines or
production equipment or before operating the well.
(g) A person shall file an environmental impact assessment as instructed by the
supervisor.
(h) A person shall file an organization report if a current organization report is not on
file with the supervisor.
(i) A person shall file a conformance bond or statement of financial responsibility
pursuant to R 324.210.
(j) A person shall pay the fee as specified by statute. A fee filed with an application shall
not be applied to a subsequent application. The fee shall be returned if a permit is not
issued.
(k) A person shall provide additional information as required in R 324.802 with an
application for a permit to drill and operate an injection well or to convert a previously
drilled well to an injection well.
(l) A person shall receive and post the permit in a conspicuous place at the well location.
The permit shall remain posted at the well location until well completion.
(3) A person who desires to directionally drill a well shall apply for and obtain a permit
to drill and operate as provided in this rule. The application to drill a directionally drilled
well shall include, in addition to the information specified in subrule (2) of this rule, all of
the following information:
(a) The depth at which deviation from vertical is planned.
(b) The angle and path of each deviation.
(c) The proposed horizontal distance and direction from the well location to the bottom
hole.
(d) The well's measured and true vertical depths.
(4) The supervisor shall process a permit application for a well and issue or deny a permit
to drill and operate pursuant to section 61525 of the act. Pursuant to R 324.205, the
supervisor shall not issue a permit to a person or an authorized representative of a person
if the person is not eligible for a permit.