Senate Bill 2231 amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated concerning oil and gas production, introducing new definitions and modifying existing regulations to enhance clarity and environmental protections. Key changes include redefining terms such as "Operator," "Person," and "Producer," and establishing a new definition for "Well." The bill alters the distance requirement for surface disturbances from "one-half mile" to "one-fourth mile" from the well site and imposes stricter conditions for permit issuance, including the need for statements of no objection from property owners. Additionally, it enhances enforcement mechanisms by detailing civil penalty assessments, appeal processes, and bond forfeiture conditions, while streamlining the regulatory framework by deleting several sections of existing law.

The bill also addresses reclamation and environmental protections by allowing the supervisor to suspend or extend abatement periods for compliance due to uncontrollable factors. It outlines procedures for issuing notices of forfeiture and the rights of individuals to appeal, as well as the conduct of hearings under the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act. Significant changes include the creation of a separate account for penalties and bond forfeitures, the requirement for performance-based reclamation bonds, and updated criteria for revegetation success. Furthermore, it transfers the Mineral Test Hole Regulatory Act to a new chapter in Title 59, ensuring a more organized regulatory structure for oil and gas operations in Tennessee.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 60-1-101(7), 60-1-101, 60-1-101(9), 60-1-101(10), 60-1-101(11), 60-1-103(a)(1), 60-1-103, 60-1-103(a)(3), 60-1-103(a)(5), 60-1-103(d), 60-1-104(a), 60-1-104, 60-1-104(b), 60-1-105, 60-1-202(a)(3), 60-1-202, 60-1-202(a)(4), 60-1-203, 60-1-204, 60-1-207, 60-1-208, 60-1-209, 60-1-401, 60-1-404(a), 60-1-404, 60-1-701, 60-1-702, 60-1-703(6), 60-1-703, 60-1-703(7), 60-1-704(a), 60-1-704, 60-1-705, 68-203-103(b)(6), 68-203-103