The bill amends Section 70-2-11 of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Act to enhance the responsibilities of the Oil Conservation Division and the Oil Conservation Commission. It emphasizes the need for these entities to implement the Oil and Gas Act in a manner that prioritizes the protection of public health and the environment. The division is granted the authority to create and enforce rules, regulations, and orders necessary to fulfill the objectives of the act, ensuring that waste is prevented and correlative rights are protected.

Key changes include the deletion of outdated language and the insertion of new provisions that explicitly require the division to implement the act with a focus on environmental and public health safeguards. This reflects a legislative intent to modernize the approach to oil and gas regulation in New Mexico, aligning it with contemporary environmental standards and public health considerations.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 70-2-11
AA substitute: 70-2-11