(a) General rule.--On or before July 5, 1996, each person who owned or operated a well in existence prior to April 18, 1985, which has not been registered with the department and for which no drilling permit has been issued by the department, shall register the well with the department. A well owner or operator who registers under this subsection and a well owner or operator who has previously registered a well under this chapter shall, on or before July 5, 1996, identify any abandoned well on property which the well owner or operator owns or leases and request approval from the department for classification of the well as an orphan well. Information regarding wells to be registered or identified shall be provided on a form, or in a manner prescribed by the department, and shall include:
(1) The name and address of the well operator and, if the well operator is a corporation, partnership or person nonresident of this Commonwealth, the name and address of an agent for the operator upon whom notices, orders, process or other communications issued under this chapter may be served.
(2) The well name and the location of the well indicated by a point on a 7 1/2 minute United States Geological Survey topographic map or any other location description sufficient to enable the department to locate the well on the ground.
(3) The approximate date of drilling and completing the well, its approximate depth and producing horizons, well construction information and, if available, driller's logs.
(4) An indemnity bond, an alternative fee in lieu of bonding or other evidence of financial security submitted by the well operator and deemed appropriate by the department and satisfying the requirements of section 3225 (relating to bonding). No bond, alternative fee or other evidence of financial security shall be required for identification of an orphan well. For wells drilled prior to January 30, 1956, which have not been bonded, the well operator shall have five years to comply with the provisions of this paragraph.
(5) A registration fee of $15 per well or blanket registration fee of $250 for multiple well registration applications submitted simultaneously. The registration fee shall be waived until July 5, 1996, and no fee shall be charged for identification of an orphan well.
(a.1) Orphan wells.--After July 5, 1996, a well owner, well operator or other person discovering an abandoned well on property purchased or leased by the well owner, well operator or other person shall identify it to the department within 60 days of discovery and advise the department that he is seeking classification of the well as an orphan well. No fee shall be required for identification.
(b) Extension.--The department may extend the one-year time period under subsection (a) for good cause shown. The extension may not exceed a period ending two years from April 18, 1985. The department may adopt and promulgate guidelines designed to ensure a fair implementation of this section, recognizing the practical difficulties of locating unpermitted wells and complying with the reporting requirements of this chapter.
(c) Installation of registration number.--The well operator shall install the registration number issued by the department in a legible, conspicuous and permanent manner on the well within 60 days of issuance.
(d) Definition.--For purposes of subsection (a)(4) and (5), the term "owner" does not include an owner or possessor of surface real property, on which an abandoned well is located, who did not participate or incur costs in and had no right of control over the drilling or extraction operation of the abandoned well.
Cross References. Section 3213 is referred to in sections 3211, 3214, 3220, 3273.1 of this title.