The Department of Natural Resources, through the Division of Geology and Earth Resources, regulates drilling and related activities under Oil and Gas Conservation Act and the Department of Natural Resources rules (chapter 78.52 RCW and chapter 344-12 WAC). (In 1994, the Legislature dissolved the Oil and Gas Conservation Committee and assigned its regulatory responsibilities to the Department of Natural Resources.) In the event of a discovery, the Department would also regulate production to assure equitable distribution of the proceeds.
The Department regulates Underground Natural Gas Storage under chapter 80.40 RCW and Geothermal Resources under chapter 78.60 RCW and chapter 332-17 WAC. We also assist government agencies by providing information on the hydrology of deep aquifers and on plugging severe artesian flows from shallow boreholes.
Application packets containing forms and instructions are available at this website [see Files at right]. The State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Environmental Checklist is available from the Department of Ecology website.