SB159: Bill Text

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2001 - 2002 LEGISLATURE

2001Senate BILL 159

April 25, 2001 - Introduced by Senators Cowles, Baumgart, Burke, Risser, Jauch, Rosenzweig, Wirch, Decker and Grobschmidt, cosponsored by Representatives Krawczyk, Ryba, Black, Plouff, Richards, Pocan and La Fave. Referred to Committee on Environmental Resources.

SB159,1,2 An Act to amend 295.33 (4) of the statutes; relating to: drilling beneath the beds of the Great Lakes and adjacent waters to explore for or produce oil or gas.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, no person may drill to explore for or produce oil or gas from beneath the beds of the Great Lakes or bays or harbors that are adjacent to the Great Lakes unless that drilling originates from the shore and the person has a written lease from the department of natural resources.

This bill prohibits any person from drilling beneath the beds of the Great Lakes or bays or harbors that are adjacent to the Great Lakes to explore for or produce oil or gas, without regard to where the drilling originates.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB159, s. 1 Section 1. 295.33 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB159,2,3 295.33 (4) No person may conduct drilling operations for the exploration for or production of oil or gas from if the drilling extends beneath the beds of the Great Lakes or bays or harbors that are adjacent to the Great Lakes, unless all drilling operations originate from locations above and on the landward side of the ordinary high-water mark and are conducted according to the terms of a written lease obtained from the department under s. 30.20 (2) (b).

SB159,2,4 (End)