This bill amends various sections of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Act to enhance penalties for oil discharges and pollution violations. Key changes include the definition of "waste," which now explicitly includes "physical waste," and the introduction of new civil penalties for oil discharges based on the receiving environment, with amounts significantly increased from previous levels. For example, penalties for oil entering an anadromous stream will rise from $10 to $40 per gallon, while those for discharges into unconfined saltwater environments will increase from $1 to $4 per gallon. Additionally, the bill mandates that these penalty amounts be adjusted every ten years based on the Consumer Price Index.

The legislation also establishes administrative penalties for serious or repeat discharges of oil, ranging from $500 to $10,000 per violation, and outlines factors for consideration when assessing these penalties, such as the environmental impact and the violator's compliance history. Furthermore, the bill introduces a new section defining "produced water" and repeals certain existing provisions. The effective date for these changes is set for January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
HB0205A, AM HB 205, introduced 04/22/2025: 31.05.170, 46.03.758, 46.03.759, 46.03.760, 46.03.250, 46.03.313, 46.03.740, 46.03.750, 46.03.822, 29.60.510, 29.60.599, 46.08.070, 46.03.460, 46.03.475, 46.03.020, 46.03.463, 43.52.295, 46.03.314, 46.03.490, 46.03.900