Vernon Municipal Code Ch. 11.08 Exploratory Oil and Gas Drilling

Before any exploratory well is drilled in any portion of the City a permit shall be required of the applicant, to be issued by the City Engineer.

(Prior code § 17A.13)

Before such permit may be issued, it must appear:

A. That all laws of the City pertaining to zoning, subdivision, setback lines, fire, building and other laws, rules and regulations applicable to the property for which the permit is sought have been complied with and that the granting of such permit will not result in a contravention of any law, rule or regulation of the City.

B. That a site plan has been submitted to the City Engineer with the application for permit, detailing the well location, rig location, pit locations and pipe storage locations and ingress and egress.

C. That prior to the issuance of a permit, the applicant will post a bond in the amount of $2,000.00, such bond indemnifying the City, and insuring that upon abandonment of the exploratory well, the requirements of the City restoring the site to its original condition will be complied with.

D. Prior to the issuance of the permit, the prospective applicant will be required to furnish a certificate of public liability insurance, naming the City as a co-insured.

E. Both the bond and public liability insurance set forth in subsections C and D will be issued by a company qualified to do business in the State. Such bond and such public liability insurance policy must have the prior approval of the City Attorney of the City, including, but not limited to, the amount of the public liability insurance policy and the nature and form of the contracts issued by the insurer.

(Prior code § 17A.14)

The filing of any application shall be accompanied by the payment of the sum of $200.00 for each proposed exploratory well, which sum will be deemed to defray the costs of investigations and inspections by the City. The payment of such application fee shall be payable to the City Clerk.

(Prior code § 17A.15)

After the applicant's request for a permit has been received by the City Engineer, the City Engineer shall determine that all the laws, rules and regulations of the City, including, but not limited to, requirements of other departments, have been complied with. Further, the City Engineer shall determine that the applicant has complied with the engineering regulations for exploratory oil and gas drilling, and that all applications have been accompanied by the appropriate filing fee. If the City Engineer is satisfied that the proposed drilling described in the application for a permit conforms to such requirements, laws and regulations, he or she shall issue a permit to the applicant, conditioned upon the applicant's continual complying with such appropriate laws, rules and regulations.

(Prior code § 17A.16)

The City Engineer is hereby designated as the appropriate administrative authority for the promulgation of regulations for exploratory oil and gas drilling. Such regulations may be adopted by the City Engineer from time to time after appropriate hearings. Hearings shall be held after posted notice as set forth below, and at the time of such hearing interested parties may appear and testify or otherwise present evidence opposing, introducing or supporting proposed regulations for exploratory oil and gas drilling. Such hearings shall be held and regulations may be adopted or repealed upon the following conditions:

A. The City Engineer shall cause a notice of hearing to be posted at least seven days prior to the hearing upon the adoption or repealing of proposed regulations, such notice to be posted on the bulletin board in the lobby of the City Hall of the City, located at 4305 Santa Fe Avenue, Vernon, California.

B. Such notice shall specify the time and place of such hearings and shall be held in suitable quarters to allow a sufficient number of the public as may be interested to attend such hearings.

C. Such hearings may be adjourned from time to time by an open oral announcement at the time and place of hearing.

D. After the taking of testimony and the introduction of appropriate evidence, the City Engineer may then determine whether a regulation shall be adopted, amended, modified or repealed.

E. Any interested party aggrieved by the decision of the City Engineer as set forth in subsection D may petition to the City requesting appropriate changes, eliminations or additions of regulations. The City Clerk, upon receipt of such petition, shall set the matter upon the agenda of the next convenient City Council meeting, at which time the aggrieved party may appear before the Council to be heard upon his or her petition. The City Council shall then determine finally whether such regulation or regulations shall be adopted, amended or repealed and may, as they so desire, adopt or repeal a new and different regulation which may promote the public health, safety and general welfare of the City.

(Prior code § 17A.17)

The regulations for exploratory oil and gas drilling, and other appropriate City rules, regulations and ordinances shall be complied with by the applicant at all times after the receipt of the permit. If at any time during the drilling of an exploratory well it shall be determined in good faith by the City Engineer or other appropriate department heads that the laws, rules and regulations of the City are not being complied with, the City Engineer or other appropriate department head may issue a cease and desist order to the applicant by posting the same in a conspicuous place upon the property, and thereafter no further exploratory well drilling or other related activities shall continue.

(Prior code § 17A.18)