Idaho lawmakers eye changes to natural gas and oil rules

A bill intended to make significant changes to how Idaho regulates the state’s nascent natural gas and oil industry has been introduced in the House Health and Welfare Committee.

The Idaho Statesman reports that Republican Rep. Judy Boyle of Midvale introduced the bill Wednesday.

The bill aims to make public sooner natural gas and oil production records that under current state law are not available to the public for up to a year.

The bill also changes the state’s Oil and Gas Conservation Commission to include the governor and the director of the Idaho Department of Lands.

The bill follows complaints from some property owners that they have no way to check on what Texas-based Alta Mesa is producing from wells.

The company declined to comment on the bill.

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Information from: Idaho Statesman, http://www.idahostatesman.com