Oklahoma Title 27A. Environment and Natural Resources Code | Oklahoma Title 27A. Environment and Natural Resources Laws | Oklahoma Statutes

§27A-1. Renumbered as § 1-1-101 of this title by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 359, eff. July 1, 1993. 

§27A-1-1-101. Short title. 

Chapter 1 of this title shall be known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma Environmental Quality Act". 

Added by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 1, emerg. eff. June 12, 1992. Amended by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 1, eff. July 1, 1993. Renumbered from § 1 of this title by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 359, eff. July 1, 1993. 

 

§27A-1-1-102. Purpose of act. 

The purpose of the Oklahoma Environmental Quality Act is to provide for the administration of environmental functions which will: 

1. Provide that environmental regulatory concerns of industry and the public shall be addressed in an expedient manner; 

2. Improve the manner in which citizen complaints are tracked and resolved; 

3. Better utilize state financial resources for environmental regulatory services; and 

4. Coordinate environmental activities of state environmental agencies. 

Added by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 2, emerg. eff. June 12, 1992. Amended by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 2, eff. July 1, 1993. Renumbered from § 2 of this title by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 359, eff. July 1, 1993. 

 

§27A-1-1-201. Definitions. 

As used in the Oklahoma Environmental Quality Act: 

1. “Clean Water Act” means the federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C., Section 1251 et seq., as amended; 

2. “Discharge” includes but is not limited to a discharge of a pollutant, and means any addition of any pollutant to waters of the state from any point source; 

3. “Environment” includes the air, land, wildlife, and waters of the state; 

4. “Federal Safe Drinking Water Act” means the federal law at 42 U.S.C., Section 300 et seq., as amended; 

5. “Groundwater protection agencies” include the: 

a.  Oklahoma Water Resources Board, 

b.  Oklahoma Corporation Commission, 

c.  State Department of Agriculture, 

d.  Department of Environmental Quality, 

e.  Conservation Commission, and 

f.  Department of Mines; 

6. “Nonpoint source” means the contamination of the environment with a pollutant for which the specific point of origin may not be well defined and includes but is not limited to agricultural storm water runoff and return flows from irrigated agriculture; 

7. “N.P.D.E.S.” or “National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System” means the system for the issuance of permits under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C., Section 1251 et seq., as amended; 

8. “Point source” means any discernible, confined and discrete conveyance or outlet including but not limited to any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure container, rolling stock or vessel or other floating craft from which pollutants are or may be discharged into waters of the state. The term “point source” shall not include agricultural storm water runoff and return flows from irrigated agriculture; 

9. “Pollutant” includes but is not limited to dredged spoil, solid waste, incinerator residue, sewage, garbage, sewage sludge, munitions, chemical wastes, biological materials, radioactive materials, heat, wrecked or discarded equipment, rock, sand, cellar dirt and industrial, municipal, and agribusiness waste; 

10. “Pollution” means the presence in the environment of any substance, contaminant or pollutant, or any other alteration of the physical, chemical or biological properties of the environment or the release of any liquid, gaseous or solid substance into the environment in quantities which are or will likely create a nuisance or which render or will likely render the environment harmful or detrimental or injurious to public health, safety or welfare, or to domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational, or other legitimate beneficial uses, or to livestock, wild animals, birds, fish or other aquatic life, or to property; 

11. “Source” means any and all points of origin of any wastes, pollutants or contaminants whether publicly or privately owned or operated; 

12. “State agencies with limited environmental responsibilities” means: 

a.  the Department of Public Safety, 

b.  the Department of Labor, and 

c.  the Department of Civil Emergency Management; 

13. “State environmental agency” includes the: 

a.  Oklahoma Water Resources Board, 

b.  Oklahoma Corporation Commission, 

c.  State Department of Agriculture, 

d.  Oklahoma Conservation Commission, 

e.  Department of Wildlife Conservation, 

f.  Department of Mines, and 

g.  Department of Environmental Quality; 

14. “Storm water” means rain water runoff, snow melt runoff, and surface runoff and drainage; 

15. “Total maximum daily load” means the sum of individual wasteload allocations (W.L.A.) for point sources, safety, reserves, and loads from nonpoint sources and natural backgrounds; 

16. “Waste” means any liquid, gaseous or solid or semi-solid substance, or thermal component, whether domestic, municipal, commercial, agricultural or industrial in origin, which may pollute or contaminate or tend to pollute or contaminate, any air, land or waters of the state; 

17. “Wastewater” includes any substance, including sewage, that contains any discharge from the bodies of human beings or animals, or pollutants or contaminating chemicals or other contaminating wastes from domestic, municipal, commercial, industrial, agricultural, manufacturing or other forms of industry;  

18. “Wastewater treatment” means any method, technique or process used to remove pollutants from wastewater or sludge to the extent that the wastewater or sludge may be reused, discharged into waters of the state or otherwise disposed and includes, but is not limited to, the utilization of mechanized works, surface impoundments and lagoons, aeration, evaporation, best management practices (BMPs), buffer strips, crop removal or trapping, constructed wetlands, digesters or other devices or methods. “Treatment” also means any method, technique or process used in the purification of drinking water; 

19. “Wastewater treatment system” means treatment works and all related pipelines or conduits, pumping stations and force mains, and all other appurtenances and devices used for collecting, treating, conducting or discharging wastewater; 

20. “Waters of the state” means all streams, lakes, ponds, marshes, watercourses, waterways, wells, springs, irrigation systems, drainage systems, storm sewers and all other bodies or accumulations of water, surface and underground, natural or artificial, public or private, which are contained within, flow through, or border upon this state or any portion thereof, and shall include under all circumstances the waters of the United States which are contained within the boundaries of, flow through or border upon this state or any portion thereof. Provided, waste treatment systems, including treatment ponds or lagoons designed to meet federal and state requirements other than cooling ponds as defined in the Clean Water Act or rules promulgated thereto and prior converted cropland are not waters of the state; and 

21. “Wellhead protection area” means the surface and subsurface area surrounding a water well or wellfield supplying a public water system that defines the extent of the area from which water is supplied to such water well or wellfield. 

Added by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 3, eff. July 1, 1993. Amended by Laws 1999, c. 413, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 2003, c. 118, § 1, emerg. eff. April 22, 2003. 

 

§27A-1-1-202. State environmental agencies - Powers, duties and responsibilities. 

A. Each state environmental agency shall: 

1. Be responsible for fully implementing and enforcing the laws and rules within its jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility; 

2. Utilize and enforce the Oklahoma Water Quality Standards established by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board; 

3. Seek to strengthen relationships between state, regional, local and federal environmental planning, development and management programs; 

4. Specifically facilitate cooperation across jurisdictional lines of authority with other state environmental agencies regarding programs to resolve environmental concerns; 

5. Cooperate with all state environmental agencies, other state agencies and local or federal governmental entities to protect, foster, and promote the general welfare, and the environment and natural resources of this state; 

6. Have the authority to engage in environmental and natural resource information dissemination and education activities within their respective areas of environmental jurisdiction; and 

7. Participate in every hearing conducted by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for the consideration, adoption or amendment of the classification of waters of the state and standards of purity and quality thereof, and shall have the opportunity to present written comment to the members of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board at the same time staff recommendations are submitted to those members for Board review and consideration. 

B. 1. In addition to the requirements of subsection A of this section, each state environmental agency shall have promulgated by July 1, 2001, a Water Quality Standards Implementation Plan for its jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility in compliance with the Administrative Procedures Act and pursuant to the provisions of this section. Each agency shall review its plan at least every three (3) years thereafter to determine whether revisions to the plan are necessary. 

2. Upon the request of any state environmental agency, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall provide consulting assistance to such agency in developing a Water Quality Standards Implementation Plan as required by this subsection. 

3. Each Water Quality Standards Implementation Plan shall: 

a.  describe, generally, the processes, procedures and methodologies the state environmental agency will utilize to ensure that programs within its jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility will comply with anti-degradation standards and lead to: 

(1)  maintenance of water quality where beneficial uses are supported, 

(2)  removal of threats to water quality where beneficial uses are in danger of not being supported, and 

(3)  restoration of water quality where beneficial uses are not being supported, 

b.  include the procedures to be utilized in the application of use support assessment protocols to make impairment determinations, 

c.  list and describe programs affecting water quality, 

d.  include technical information and procedures to be utilized in implementing the Water Quality Standards Implementation Plan, 

e.  describe the method by which the Water Quality Standards Implementation Plan will be integrated into the water quality management activities within the jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility of the state environmental agency, 

f.  detail the manner in which the agency will comply with mandated statewide requirements affecting water quality developed by other state environmental agencies including, but not limited to, total maximum daily load development, water discharge permit activities and nonpoint source pollution prevention programs, 

g.  include a brief summary of the written comments and testimony received pursuant to all public meetings held or sponsored by the state environmental agency for the purpose of providing the public and other state environmental agencies an opportunity to comment on the plan, and 

h.  describe objective methods and means to evaluate the effectiveness of activities conducted pursuant to the Water Quality Standards Implementation Plan to achieve Water Quality Standards. 

C. 1. There is hereby created a State Water Quality Standards Implementation Advisory Committee. The Committee shall consist of a designated representative of each of the state environmental agencies and the Secretary of the Environment. The Water Resources Board representative shall serve as chair of the Committee. 

2. Prior to the publication of the notice of rulemaking intent for a Water Quality Standards Implementation Plan or amendment thereof, the environmental agency developing the plan shall submit the draft plan to the Water Quality Standards Implementation Advisory Committee for review. The Committee shall evaluate the extent to which the agency’s Water Quality Standards Implementation Plan meets the requirements set out in this section and, to the extent necessary to achieve compliance with these requirements, shall provide detailed, written recommendations of provisions which should be incorporated into the agency’s plan. A copy of such written recommendations shall also be submitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. 

  D. 1. Each state environmental agency with groundwater protection authority pursuant to Article III of the Oklahoma Environmental Quality Act shall be the groundwater protection agency for activities within its jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility. 

2. The Department of Environmental Quality shall cooperate with other state environmental agencies, as appropriate and necessary, in the protection of such unassigned activities. 

3. Groundwater regulatory agencies shall develop groundwater protection practices to prevent groundwater contamination from activities within their respective jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility. 

4. Each groundwater protection agency shall promulgate such rules, and issue such permits, policies, directives or any other appropriate requirements, as necessary, to implement the requirements of this subsection. 

5. Groundwater protection agencies shall take such action as may be necessary to assure that activities within their respective jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility protect groundwater quality to support the uses of the state's water quality. 

6. In addition, each groundwater protection agency with enforcement authority is hereby authorized to: 

a.  engage the voluntary cooperation of all persons in the maintenance and protection of groundwater, and to advise, consult and cooperate with all persons, all agencies of the state, universities and colleges, the federal government or other states, and with interstate agencies in the furtherance of the purposes of this subsection, and to this end and for the purposes of studies, scientific or other investigations, research, experiments and demonstrations pertaining thereto, receive and spend funds as appropriated by the Legislature, and from such agencies and other officers and persons on behalf of the state, 

b.  encourage the formulation and execution of plans to maintain and protect groundwater by cooperative groups or associations of municipal corporations, industries, industrial users and other users of groundwaters of the state, who, jointly or severally, are or may be impacting on the maintenance and protection of groundwater, 

c.  encourage, participate in or conduct or cause to be conducted studies, scientific or other investigations, research, experiments and demonstrations relating to the maintenance and protection of groundwater, and to collect data with respect thereto, all as may be deemed advisable and necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection, and to make reports and recommendations with respect thereto, 

d.  conduct groundwater sampling, data collection, analyses and evaluations with sufficient frequency to ascertain the characteristics and quality of groundwater and the sufficiency of the groundwater protection programs established pursuant to this subsection, and 

e.  develop a public education and promotion program to aid and assist in publicizing the need of, and securing support for, the maintenance and protection of groundwater. 

E. Each state environmental agency and each state agency with limited environmental responsibilities shall participate in the information management system developed by the Department of Environmental Quality, pursuant to Section 6 of this act, with such information as the Department shall reasonably request. 

F. In each even-numbered year, in cooperation with other state environmental agencies participating in the monitoring of water resources, the Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall provide a report on the status of water quality monitoring to the Legislature for review. 

Added by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 4, eff. July 1, 1993. Amended by Laws 1993, c. 324, § 1, eff. July 1, 1993; Laws 1999, c. 413, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1999. 

 

§27A-1-1-203. State environmental agencies - Establishment of rules for issuance or denial of permits or licenses and complaint resolution. 

A. Each state environmental agency and each state agency with limited environmental responsibilities, within its areas of environmental jurisdiction, shall promulgate, by rule, time periods for issuance or denial of permits and licenses that are required by law. Any such matter requiring an individual proceeding shall be resolved in accordance with the rules of the agency and any applicable statutes. The rules shall provide that such time periods shall only be extended by agreement with the licensee or permittee or if circumstances outside the agency's control prevent that agency from meeting its time periods. If the agency fails to issue or deny a permit or license within the required time periods because of circumstances outside of the agency's control, the agency shall state in writing the reasons such licensing or permitting is not ready for issuance or denial. 

B. 1. Each state environmental agency and each state agency with limited environmental responsibilities shall promulgate rules establishing time periods for complaint resolution as required by law. 

2. Complaints received by any state environmental agency or state agency with limited environmental responsibilities concerning a site or facility permitted by or which clearly falls within the jurisdiction of another state environmental agency or state agency with limited environmental responsibilities shall be immediately referred to the appropriate agency for investigation and resolution. Such investigation shall be made by the appropriate division and employees of the appropriate agency. 

C. Any person, as defined in Section 2-1-102 of this title, who performs environmental investigation or remediation work which is regulated by the Corporation Commission, must first receive a license for performing investigative or remediation work from the Corporation Commission. 

Added by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 11, emerg. eff. June 12, 1992. Amended by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 5, eff. July 1, 1993. Renumbered from § 11 of this title by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 359, eff. July 1, 1993; Laws 1999, c. 413, § 15, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 2005, c. 435, § 27, eff. Nov. 1, 2005. 

 

§27A-1-1-204. State environmental agencies - Complaint investigation and response process - Rules - False complaints. 

A. Each state environmental agency and each state agency with limited environmental responsibilities shall develop, implement and utilize a complaint investigation and response process that will ensure all state environmental agencies with authority to investigate, mitigate and resolve complaints, respond to complaints in a timely manner by initiating appropriate action and informing the complainant regarding potential actions that may occur. Complainants shall also be notified, in writing: 

1. Of the resolution of the complaint; and 

2. Of the complainant's options for further resolution of the complaint if such complainant objects or disagrees with the actions or decision of the agency. 

B. Rules to implement such system shall be promulgated by each state environmental agency. 

C. 1. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly and willfully file a false complaint with a state environmental agency or to knowingly and willfully misrepresent material information to a state environmental agency or a state agency with limited environmental responsibilities relating to a complaint. 

2. Any person filing such false complaint or misrepresenting such material information shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and may be reported to local law enforcement for criminal investigation and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term of not more than sixty (60) days or both such fine and imprisonment. 

Added by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 5, emerg. eff. June 12, 1992. Amended by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 6, eff. July 1, 1993. Renumbered from § 5 of this title by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 359, eff. July 1, 1993. Amended by Laws 1996, c. 158, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1996; Laws 1999, c. 413, § 16, eff. Nov. 1, 1999. 

 

§27A-1-1-205. State environmental agencies - Transferred and assigned programs and functions - Unexpired or unrevoked licenses, permits, certifications or registrations - Existing rights, obligations and remedies - Existing orders, claims or causes of action. 

A. With regard to all programs and functions transferred and assigned among the state environmental agencies pursuant to Section 1-3-101 of this title, all agency rules, including fee schedules for state and county, relating to such programs and functions are hereby transferred to the receiving agency for the purpose of maintaining and operating such programs and functions. Such rules shall remain in effect only until June 30, 1994, at which time such transferred rules will terminate unless earlier superseded by rules promulgated by the receiving agency. By February 1, 1994, each agency receiving programs or functions shall have adopted new permanent rules to implement the programs and functions within the jurisdiction of the agency pursuant to Section 1-3-101 of this title. 

B. Unexpired or unrevoked licenses, permits, certifications or registrations issued prior to July 1, 1993, shall remain valid for stated terms and conditions until otherwise provided by law. Such licenses, permits or registrations shall be subject to the laws and rules of the state agency to which jurisdiction over such licenses, permits or registrations are transferred pursuant to the Oklahoma Environmental Quality Act. 

C. All rights, obligations and remedies arising out of laws, rules, agreements and causes of action are also transferred to such agency. 

D. Nothing in the Oklahoma Environmental Quality Act shall operate to bar or negate any existing order, claim or cause of action transferred or available to any state environmental agency or its respective predecessor, nor shall it operate to affect enforcement action undertaken by any program, division or service prior to such transfer to any state environmental agency. Violations of provisions of law now contained in this title, and violations of rules, permits or final orders which occurred prior to the transfer of jurisdiction and authority to any state environmental agency shall be subject to penalties available and existing at the time of violation. 

E. Any application pending on June 30, 1993, before the Oklahoma Water Resources Board or the State Department of Health for a permit or license over which the Department has jurisdiction is hereby transferred to the Department and shall be subject to the Oklahoma Environmental Quality Code. 

F. All permit applications filed with the Oklahoma Water Resources Board on or before June 30, 1993, for which no permit has been issued by the Oklahoma Water Resources Board for the land application of industrial waste, sludge or wastewater shall be subject to the requirements of this Code. 

Added by Laws 1992, c. 398, § 12, eff. July 1, 1993. Amended by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 9, eff. July 1, 1993. Renumbered from § 12 of this title by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 359, eff. July 1, 1993. Amended by Laws 1993, c. 324, § 8, eff. July 1, 1993. 

 

§27A-1-1-206. Economic impact and environmental benefit statements. 

A. Each state environmental agency in promulgation of permanent rules within its areas of environmental jurisdiction, prior to the submittal to public comment and review of any rule that is more stringent than corresponding federal requirements, unless such stringency is specifically authorized by state statute, shall duly determine the economic impact and the environmental benefit of such rule on the people of the State of Oklahoma including those entities that will be subject to the rule. Such determination shall be in written form. 

B. Such economic impact and environmental benefit statement of a proposed permanent rule shall be issued prior to or within fifteen (15) days after the date of publication of the notice of the proposed permanent rule adoption. The statement may be modified after any hearing or comment period afforded pursuant to Article I of the Administrative Procedures Act. 

C. The economic impact and environmental benefit statement shall be submitted to the Governor pursuant to Section 303.1 of Title 75 of the Oklahoma Statutes and to the Legislature pursuant to Section 308 of Title 75 of the Oklahoma Statutes. Such reports submitted to the Governor and to the Legislature shall include a brief summary of any public comments made concerning the statement and any response by the agency to the public comments demonstrating a reasoned evaluation of the relative impacts and benefits of the more stringent regulation. 

Added by Laws 1994, c. 96, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1994. 

 

§27A-1-1-207. Kyoto Protocol – Implementation – Ratification by United States Senate. 

A. Neither the legislative or executive branch of the State of Oklahoma shall take actions to implement the Kyoto Protocol until such time as the Kyoto Protocol has been ratified by the United States Senate or otherwise enacted into law. 

B. Nothing in this section shall: 

1. Be construed to limit or to impede state or private participation in any ongoing voluntary initiatives to reduce greenhouse gases, including, but not limited to, the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Lights program, the United States Department of Energy’s Climate Challenge program and similar state and federal initiatives relying on voluntary participation; provided, however, that such participation does not involve any allocation or other distribution of greenhouse gas emission entitlements pursuant to or under color of the Kyoto Protocol; or  

2. Prohibit industry from complying with the Oklahoma Clean Air Act as it exists or may be amended, or prohibit the Department of Environmental Quality from carrying out its duties under the Oklahoma Clean Air Act as it exists or may be amended, or prohibit the Environmental Quality Board from promulgating rules to maintain or achieve compliance with the Federal Clean Air Act as it exists or may be amended. 

C. This section shall remain in full force and effect until repealed by the Legislature of the State of Oklahoma, or until such time as the Kyoto Protocol is ratified by the United States Senate. 

Added by Laws 1999, S.J.R. No. 6, § 1, emerg. eff. April 26, 1999. 

 

§27A-1-2-101. Secretary of Environment or successor cabinet position - Powers, duties and responsibilities. 

A. The Secretary of Environment or successor cabinet position having authority over the Department of Environmental Quality shall have the following jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility: 

1. Powers and duties for environmental areas designated to such position by the Governor; 

2. The recipient of federal funds disbursed pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, provided the Oklahoma Water Resources Board is authorized to be the recipient of federal funds to administer the State Revolving Fund Program. The federal funds received by the Secretary of Environment shall be disbursed to each state environmental agency and state agency with limited environmental responsibilities based upon its statutory duties and responsibilities relating to environmental areas as determined by the Secretary of Environment in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture. Such funds shall be distributed to the appropriate state environmental agency or state agency with limited environmental responsibilities within thirty (30) days of its receipt by the Secretary or as otherwise provided by grant or contract terms without any assessment of administrative fees or costs. Disbursement of other federal environmental funds shall not be subject to this section. The Secretary of Environment shall make an annual written report no later than November 1 to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Chair of each environmental committee of both the House of Representatives and Senate detailing the disbursement of federal funds; 

3. Coordinate pollution control and complaint management activities of the state carried on by all state agencies to avoid duplication of effort including but not limited to the development of a common data base for water quality information with a uniform format for use by all state agencies and the public; and 

4. Act on behalf of the public as trustee for natural resources under the federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, the federal Water Pollution Control Act and any other federal laws providing that a trustee for the natural resources is to be designated. The Secretary is authorized to make claims against federal funds, receive federal payments, establish and manage a revolving fund in relation to duties as the natural resources trustee consistent with the federal enabling acts and to coordinate, monitor and gather information from and enter into agreements with the appropriate state environmental agencies or state agencies with limited environmental responsibilities in carrying out the duties and functions of the trustee for the natural resources of this state. 

B. 1. The Secretary of the Environment or successor cabinet position having authority over the Department of Environmental Quality shall develop and implement, by January 1, 2000, public participation procedures for the development and/or modification of: 

a.  the federally required list of impaired waters (303(d) report), 

b.  the federally required water quality assessment (305(b) report), 

c.  the federally required nonpoint source state assessment (319 report), and 

d.  the continuing planning process document. 

2. The procedures shall provide for the documents to be submitted for formal public review with a published notice consistent with the Administrative Procedures Act, providing for a thirty-day comment period and the preparation of a responsiveness summary by the applicable state environmental agency. 

3. Information from current research shall be considered when made available to the agency. 

Added by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 10, eff. July 1, 1993. Amended by Laws 1993, c. 324, § 3, emerg. eff. June 7, 1993; Laws 1999, c. 413, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 2003, c. 381, § 1, eff. July 1, 2003; Laws 2004, c. 381, § 2, emerg. eff. June 3, 2004. 

 

§27A-1-2-102. Coordination of monitoring of lakes - Identification of eutrophic lakes - Discharge of wastewater into eutrophic lake - Penalties - Order of suspension and forfeiture. 

A. The Office of the Secretary of the Environment shall coordinate monitoring lakes in the State of Oklahoma and identify those lakes which it determines to be eutrophic as defined by Oklahoma's Water Quality Standards. 

B. No person may discharge wastewaters from a point source within or outside of this state which will foreseeably enter a lake in this state which has been identified as eutrophic by the Oklahoma's Water Quality Standards without subjecting such wastewaters to the best available technology as identified in the federal Clean Water Act for nitrogen and phosphorous. The Office of the Secretary of the Environment shall coordinate the monitoring of all lakes it identifies as eutrophic and notify by certified mail any person who discharges wastewater which enters such lakes in violation of this section of the provisions of this section and shall order such person to immediately cease and desist from any further violation of this section. 

C. Any person who violates the provisions of subsection B of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a penalty of not more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per day for each day on which a violation occurs. The Attorney General is authorized to prosecute violations of this section. Venue and jurisdiction shall be proper in a county which contains all or part of a eutrophic lake which is the subject of a discharge in violation of this section. 

D. 1. In addition to the penalty provided in subsection C of this section if a person continues to violate subsection B of this section after having received notification from the Secretary of the Environment to cease and desist, such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) per day. 

2. If the owner of a facility which discharges wastewater in violation of this subsection is a corporation authorized to do business in this state, the court may enter an order directing the suspension of any authorization to do business in this state and of the charter or other instrument of organization, under which the corporation may be organized and the forfeiture of all corporate or other rights inuring thereunder. The order of suspension and forfeiture shall have the same effect on the rights, privileges and liabilities of the corporation and its officers and directors as a suspension and forfeiture ordered pursuant to Section 1212 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes for failure to pay franchise tax. Additionally, all officers and directors of a corporation found to be in violation of this subsection shall be personally liable for any fine imposed pursuant to this subsection. 

Added by Laws 1998, c. 232, § 25, eff. July 1, 1998. 

 

§27A-1-3-101. State environmental agencies - Jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibilities. 

A. The provisions of this section specify the jurisdictional areas of responsibility for each state environmental agency and state agencies with limited environmental responsibility. The jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility specified in this section shall be in addition to those otherwise provided by law and assigned to the specific state environmental agency; provided that any rule, interagency agreement or executive order enacted or entered into prior to the effective date of this section which conflicts with the assignment of jurisdictional environmental responsibilities specified by this section is hereby superseded. The provisions of this subsection shall not nullify any financial obligation arising from services rendered pursuant to any interagency agreement or executive order entered into prior to July 1, 1993, nor nullify any obligations or agreements with private persons or parties entered into with any state environmental agency before July 1, 1993. 

B. Department of Environmental Quality. The Department of Environmental Quality shall have the following jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility: 

1. All point source discharges of pollutants and storm water to waters of the state which originate from municipal, industrial, commercial, mining, transportation and utilities, construction, trade, real estate and finance, services, public administration, manufacturing and other sources, facilities and activities, except as provided in subsections D and E of this section; 

2. All nonpoint source discharges and pollution except as provided in subsections D, E and F of this section; 

3. Technical lead agency for point source, nonpoint source and storm water pollution control programs funded under Section 106 of the federal Clean Water Act, for areas within the Department’s jurisdiction as provided in this subsection; 

4. Surface water and groundwater quality and protection and water quality certifications; 

5. Waterworks and wastewater works operator certification; 

6. Public and private water supplies; 

7. Underground injection control pursuant to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and 40 CFR Parts 144 through 148, except for: 

a.  Class II injection wells, 

b.  Class V injection wells utilized in the remediation of groundwater associated with underground or aboveground storage tanks regulated by the Corporation Commission,  

c.  those wells used for the recovery, injection or disposal of mineral brines as defined in the Oklahoma Brine Development Act regulated by the Commission, and 

d.  any aspect of any CO2 sequestration facility, including any associated CO2 injection well, over which the Commission is given jurisdiction pursuant to the Oklahoma Carbon Capture and Geologic Sequestration Act; 

8. Notwithstanding any other provision in this section or other environmental jurisdiction statute, sole and exclusive jurisdiction for air quality under the federal Clean Air Act and applicable state law, except for indoor air quality and asbestos as regulated for worker safety by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act and by Chapter 11 of Title 40 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 

9. Hazardous waste and solid waste, including industrial, commercial and municipal waste; 

10. Superfund responsibilities of the state under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 and amendments thereto, except the planning requirements of Title III of the Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act of 1986; 

11. Radioactive waste and all regulatory activities for the use of atomic energy and sources of radiation except for the use of sources of radiation by diagnostic x-ray facilities; 

12. Water, waste, and wastewater treatment systems including, but not limited to, septic tanks or other public or private waste disposal systems; 

13. Emergency response as specified by law; 

14. Environmental laboratory services and laboratory certification; 

15. Hazardous substances other than branding, package and labeling requirements; 

16. Freshwater wellhead protection; 

17. Groundwater protection for activities subject to the jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility of the Department; 

18. Utilization and enforcement of Oklahoma Water Quality Standards and implementation documents; 

19. Environmental regulation of any entity or activity, and the prevention, control and abatement of any pollution, not subject to the specific statutory authority of another state environmental agency; 

20. Development and maintenance of a computerized information system relating to water quality pursuant to Section 1-4-107 of this title; and 

21. Development and promulgation of a Water Quality Standards Implementation Plan pursuant to Section 1-1-202 of this title for its jurisdictional area of environmental responsibility. 

C. Oklahoma Water Resources Board. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board shall have the following jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility: 

1. Water quantity including, but not limited to, water rights, surface water and underground water, planning, and interstate stream compacts; 

2. Weather modification; 

3. Dam safety; 

4. Flood plain management; 

5. State water/wastewater loans and grants revolving fund and other related financial aid programs; 

6. Administration of the federal State Revolving Fund Program including, but not limited to, making application for and receiving capitalization grant awards, wastewater prioritization for funding, technical project reviews, environmental review process, and financial review and administration; 

7. Water well drillers/pump installers licensing; 

8. Technical lead agency for clean lakes eligible for funding under Section 314 of the federal Clean Water Act or other applicable sections of the federal Clean Water Act or other subsequent state and federal clean lakes programs; administration of a state program for assessing, monitoring, studying and restoring Oklahoma lakes with administration to include, but not be limited to, receipt and expenditure of funds from federal, state and private sources for clean lakes and implementation of a volunteer monitoring program to assess and monitor state water resources, provided such funds from federal Clean Water Act sources are administered and disbursed by the Office of the Secretary of Environment; 

9. Statewide water quality standards and their accompanying use support assessment protocols, anti-degradation policy and implementation, and policies generally affecting Oklahoma Water Quality Standards application and implementation including but not limited to mixing zones, low flows and variances or any modification or change thereof pursuant to Section 1085.30 of Title 82 of the Oklahoma Statutes; 

10. Groundwater protection for activities subject to the jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility of the Board; 

11. Development and promulgation of a Water Quality Standards Implementation Plan pursuant to Section 1-1-202 of this title for its jurisdictional area of environmental responsibility; 

12. Development of classifications and identification of permitted uses of groundwater, in recognized water rights, and associated groundwater recharge areas; 

13. Establishment and implementation of a statewide beneficial use monitoring program for waters of the state in coordination with the other state environmental agencies; 

14. Coordination with other state environmental agencies and other public entities of water resource investigations conducted by the federal United States Geological Survey for water quality and quantity monitoring in the state; and 

15. Development and submission of a report concerning the status of water quality monitoring in this state pursuant to Section 1-1-202 of this title. 

D. Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry. 

1. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry shall have the following jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility except as provided in paragraph 2 of this subsection: 

a.  point source discharges and nonpoint source runoff from agricultural crop production, agricultural services, livestock production, silviculture, feed yards, livestock markets and animal waste, 

b.  pesticide control, 

c.  forestry and nurseries, 

d.  fertilizer, 

e.  facilities which store grain, feed, seed, fertilizer and agricultural chemicals, 

f.  dairy waste and wastewater associated with milk production facilities, 

g.  groundwater protection for activities subject to the jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility of the Department, 

h.  utilization and enforcement of Oklahoma Water Quality Standards and implementation documents, 

i.  development and promulgation of a Water Quality Standards Implementation Plan pursuant to Section 1-1-202 of this title for its jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility, and 

j.  storm water discharges for activities subject to the jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility of the Department. 

2. In addition to the jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility specified in subsection B of this section, the Department of Environmental Quality shall have environmental jurisdiction over: 

a.  (1)  commercial manufacturers of fertilizers, grain and feed products, and chemicals, and over manufacturing of food and kindred products, tobacco, paper, lumber, wood, textile mill and other agricultural products, 

(2)  slaughterhouses, but not including feedlots at these facilities, and 

(3)  aquaculture and fish hatcheries, 

including, but not limited to, discharges of pollutants and storm water to waters of the state, surface impoundments and land application of wastes and sludge, and other pollution originating at these facilities, and 

b.  facilities which store grain, feed, seed, fertilizer, and agricultural chemicals that are required by federal NPDES regulations to obtain a permit for storm water discharges shall only be subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Environmental Quality with respect to such storm water discharges. 

E. Corporation Commission. 

1. The Corporation Commission is hereby vested with exclusive jurisdiction, power and authority, and it shall be its duty to promulgate and enforce rules, and issue and enforce orders governing and regulating: 

a.  the conservation of oil and gas, 

b.  field operations for geologic and geophysical exploration for oil, gas and brine, including seismic survey wells, stratigraphic test wells and core test wells, 

c.  the exploration, drilling, development, producing or processing for oil and gas on the lease site, 

d.  the exploration, drilling, development, production and operation of wells used in connection with the recovery, injection or disposal of mineral brines, 

e.  reclaiming facilities only for the processing of salt water, crude oil, natural gas condensate and tank bottoms or basic sediment from crude oil tanks, pipelines, pits and equipment associated with the exploration, drilling, development, producing or transportation of oil or gas, 

f.  underground injection control pursuant to the federal Safe Drinking Water Act and 40 CFR Parts 144 through 148, of: 

(1)  Class II injection wells, 

(2)  Class V injection wells utilized in the remediation of groundwater associated with underground or aboveground storage tanks regulated by the Commission,  

(3)  those wells used for the recovery, injection or disposal of mineral brines as defined in the Oklahoma Brine Development Act, and 

(4)  any aspect of any CO2 sequestration facility, including any associated CO2 injection well, over which the Commission is given jurisdiction pursuant to the Oklahoma Carbon Capture and Geologic Sequestration Act. 

Any substance that the United States Environmental Protection Agency allows to be injected into a Class II well may continue to be so injected, 

g.  tank farms for storage of crude oil and petroleum products which are located outside the boundaries of refineries, petrochemical manufacturing plants, natural gas liquid extraction plants, or other facilities which are subject to the jurisdiction of the Department of Environmental Quality with regard to point source discharges, 

h.  the construction and operation of pipelines and associated rights-of-way, equipment, facilities or buildings used in the transportation of oil, gas, petroleum, petroleum products, anhydrous ammonia or mineral brine, or in the treatment of oil, gas or mineral brine during the course of transportation but not including line pipes in any: 

(1)  natural gas liquids extraction plant, 

(2)  refinery, 

(3)  reclaiming facility other than for those specified within subparagraph e of this subsection, 

(4)  mineral brine processing plant, and 

(5)  petrochemical manufacturing plant, 

i.  the handling, transportation, storage and disposition of saltwater, mineral brines, waste oil and other deleterious substances produced from or obtained or used in connection with the drilling, development, producing and operating of oil and gas wells, at: 

(1)  any facility or activity specifically listed in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this subsection as being subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, and 

(2)  other oil and gas extraction facilities and activities, 

j.  spills of deleterious substances associated with facilities and activities specified in paragraph 1 of this subsection or associated with other oil and gas extraction facilities and activities, 

k.  subsurface storage of oil, natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas in geologic strata, 

l.  groundwater protection for activities subject to the jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility of the Commission, 

m.  utilization and enforcement of Oklahoma Water Quality Standards and implementation documents, and 

n.  development and promulgation of a Water Quality Standards Implementation Plan pursuant to Section 1-1-202 of this title for its jurisdictional areas of environmental responsibility. 

2. The exclusive jurisdiction, power and authority of the Commission shall also extend to the construction, operation, maintenance, site remediation, closure and abandonment of the facilities and activities described in paragraph 1 of this subsection. 

3. When a deleterious substance from a Commission-regulated facility or activity enters a point source discharge of pollutants or storm water from a facility or activity regulated by the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department shall have sole jurisdiction over the point source discharge of the commingled pollutants and storm water from the two facilities or activities insofar as Department-regulated facilities and activities are concerned. 

4. For purposes of the federal Clean Water Act, any facility or activity which is subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission pursuant to paragraph 1 of this subsection and any other oil and gas extraction facility or activity which requires a permit for the discharge of a pollutant or storm water to waters of the United States shall be subject to the direct jurisdiction of the federal Environmental Protection Agency and shall not be required to be permitted by the Department of Environmental Quality or the Commission for such discharge. 

5. The Commission shall have jurisdiction over: 

a.  underground storage tanks that contain antifreeze, motor oil, motor fuel, gasoline, kerosene, diesel, or aviation fuel and that are not located at refineries or at the upstream or intermediate shipment points of pipeline operations, including, but not limited to, tanks from which these materials are dispensed into vehicles, or tanks used in wholesale or bulk distribution activities, as well as leaks from pumps, hoses, dispensers, and other ancillary eq