State opens registration for hydraulic fracturing permit application process

Registration required by law and is separate from permit application

[October 08, 2013]  SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is accepting online registration from firms and individuals interested in applying for a permit for high-volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing in Illinois.

While the registration forms are available to the public, the Department of Natural Resources will not accept applications for high-volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing permits, and will not issue permits, until after the draft administrative rules have been submitted and approved by Illinois General Assembly's Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.

The registration is required under provisions of Illinois' new Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act. Those interested in applying for hydraulic fracturing permits must submit the registration form at least 30 days prior to submitting their first permit application.

Regulations for high-volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing in Illinois are still being developed by the Department of Natural Resources. The Hydraulic Fracturing Regulatory Act required that the registration form be made available effective Sept. 15, and the department complied with that provision of the law by posting the registration form at this link: http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/mines/
Pages/HydraulicFracturing.aspx.

The law requires the registrant to provide the following information as part of the registration:

• The name and address of the registrant and any parent, subsidiary or affiliate thereof.

• Disclosure of all findings of a serious violation or an equivalent violation under federal or state laws or regulations in the development or operation of an oil or gas exploration or production site via hydraulic fracturing by the applicant or any parent, subsidiary or affiliate thereof within the previous five years.

• Proof of insurance to cover injuries, damages or loss related to pollution or diminution. Coverage must be in the amount of at least $5,000,000 from an insurance carrier authorized, licensed or permitted to do this insurance business in this state and holding at least an A- rating by A.M. Best & Co. or any comparable rating service.

Registering with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is a separate and additional requirement of companies wanting to eventually file an application for high-volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing in Illinois.

[Text from Illinois Department of Natural Resources file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]