18.50.065 Gas Extraction
A. Applicability
This section applies to gas extraction. For purposes of this section, “gas extraction” includes the operation or development of oil and gas field properties, and the process of recovering liquid hydrocarbons from oil and gas fields. Activities may include exploration for crude petroleum and natural gas; drilling, completing, and equipping wells; operation of separators, emulsion breakers, desilting equipment, and field gathering lines for crude petroleum and natural gas; and all other activities in the preparation of oil and gas up to the point of shipment from the producing property. This industry includes the production of crude petroleum, the mining and extraction of oil from oil shale and oil sands, the production of natural gas, sulfur recovery from natural gas, and the recovery of hydrocarbon liquids from oil and gas field gases. (Source: NAICS 2111)
B. Standards
1. In considering any rezoning or special use permit application for gas extraction, the Planning Commission and Governing Body shall consider past history of the operator with regard to spills, overall safety and compliance with local, state or federal laws and regulations.
2. No portion of the drilling or production related activities shall be closer than two hundred fifty (250) feet from any point along the property line or public street right-of-way.
3. Gas extraction operations shall comply with the development and performance standards set forth in the M-3 zoning district regulations, and local, state and federal regulations.
4. The granting of a period for gas drilling or extraction shall not be construed, nor interpreted as implying, that dehydration or absorption plants are permissible within the permit area. Storage tank "farms" which are not accessory to the permitted production use shall not be permitted.