Gas drillers, Idaho counties reach agreement

On January 31, 2012 — No comments

A group representing Idaho counties and a group representing companies interested in tapping natural gas in the state announced an agreement Sunday on legislation they plan to introduce into the Idaho Legislature next month.

The Idaho Association of Counties and the Idaho Petroleum Council said the guidelines will allow counties some control over natural gas development, while natural gas wildcatters will have a clearer path to tapping fields.

But a conservation group said the agreement appears to reduce local control over industries by allowing state lawmakers to create rules that counties and cities wouldn’t be able to exceed with their own ordinances.

The proposed legislation was not released, but the news release said the legislation would allow local governments to create regulations involving exploration and processing as long as the rules didn’t prevent companies from building infrastructure.

The groups also said the proposed legislation would let local governments pass their own ordinances regulating the industry as long as those ordinances don’t conflict with state law.

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