Shafter Zoning Code § 9.40 Development Standards

All wells drilled, pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter, for the exploration and development, production, storage, transmission, and treatment, and any accessory or ancillary equipment, structure or facilities thereto, of oil, gas, and other hydrocarbon substances shall comply with the following standards, unless otherwise provided in this Chapter.

No oil or gas well shall be drilled within the following distances of any of the following structures or land uses that were constructed prior to the commencement of such drilling, without the written consent of the owner: within one hundred (100) feet of the right-of-way of any street or road; within two hundred (200) feet of the right-of-way of any public highway, proposed public highway, Official Plan line, or Specific Plan Line or property line; within one hundred (100) feet of any building not necessary to the operation of the well; within two hundred fifty (250) feet of any dwelling; within three hundred

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(300) feet of any building used as a place of public assembly, institution, or school, or within three hundred fifty (350) feet of any building utilized for commercial or industrial purposes.

All drilling and production activities shall conform to all adopted fire and safety regulations. Fire fighting apparatus, materials, and equipment required by the City shall be maintained on the site at all times during drilling and production operations.
No signs, other than directional and warning signs and those required for identification of a well, shall be constructed, erected, maintained, or placed on the premises or any part thereof, except those required by law or by ordinance to be displayed in connection with the drilling or maintenance of a well.
Sanitary toilet and/or washing facilities, if required by the Kern County Health Department or other governmental agencies, shall be installed and maintained in a clean and sanitary condition during drilling operations, and at such other times as specified by these agencies.
Proven technological improvements generally accepted and used in drilling and production methods shall be employed as they become available if they are capable of reducing nuisances or annoyances.
All derricks, boilers, and other drilling equipment employed, pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter, to drill any well hole or to repair, clean out, deepen, or redrill any completed well shall be removed within ninety (90) days after completion of production tests following completion of such drilling or after abandonment of any well, unless such derricks, boilers, and drilling equipment are to be used within a reasonable time, as determined by the Community Services Director, for the drilling of another approved well(s) on the premises.
Within ninety (90) days after any well has been placed in production, or after its abandonment, earthen sumps used in drilling and/or production (unless such sumps are to be used within a reasonable time as determined by the Community Services Director for the drilling of another well(s)) shall be filled and the drilling site restored as nearly as practicable to a uniform grade. Temporary earthen sumps may be used for clean-out or remedial work on an existing well or other production facility. However, these sumps shall be filled and the site restored as nearly as practicable to a uniform grade within ninety (90) days after the clean-out or other remedial work is completed. Such restoration work shall comply with all applicable regulations of the California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources.
Any derrick used for servicing operations shall be of the portable type, unless proof is provided that the well is of such depth or has some other characteristics such that a portable type derrick will not property service such well. In that instance, the Community Services Director may approve the use of a standard type of derrick.
Whenever oil or gas is produced into and shipped from tanks located on the premises, such tanks, whenever located within five hundred (500) feet of any

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dwelling or commercial building, shall be surrounded by shrubs or trees, planted and maintained to provide attractive landscaping or be fenced in such a manner as to, insofar as practicable, screen such tanks from public view. Such fencing shall comply with the requirements of the California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources.

Whenever a well is located within five hundred (500) feet from an existing dwelling unit, except in case of emergency, no materials, equipment, tools, or pipe used for either drilling or production operations shall be delivered to or removed from the drilling site, except between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., unless otherwise required by the California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources.
Pumping wells shall be operated by electric motors or muffled internal combustion engines.
The height of all pumping units shall not exceed thirty-five (35) feet and shall be painted and kept in a neat condition.
All vehicle parking and maneuvering areas shall be treated and maintained with oiled sand or a similar dust binding material.
After production begins and a pump is installed on the wellhead, a fence at least six (6) feet in height shall be installed around the pump site or drilling island for public safety. This fence shall be constructed of chain link with wood or metal slats or other screening materials as may be required by the Community Services Director. This fencing and screening requirement shall apply only to those pump sites located within five hundred (500) feet of any dwelling. Such fencing shall comply with the requirements of the California Division of Oil Gas and Geothermal Resources.
All required Federal, State, County, and City rules and regulations shall be complied with at all times including, but not limited to, the rules and regulations of the following agencies:

a. California Department of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources
b. Kern County Fire Department
c. Kern County Health Department
d. Regional Water Quality Control Board
e. San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District

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