Gas: means all natural gas and all other fluid hydrocarbons not defined as oil, including condensate because it originally was in a gaseous phase in the reservoir. See Tennessee Code 60-1-101
Mineral: means any substance with economic value whether organic or inorganic that can be extracted from the earth, but excluding oil and gas. See Tennessee Code 60-1-503
Oil: means crude petroleum that was originally in an oil phase in the reservoir. See Tennessee Code 60-1-101
Operator: means the person, whether owner or not, supervising or responsible for drilling, operating, repairing, abandoning or plugging of mineral test holes subject to this part. See Tennessee Code 60-1-503
Pollution: means such alteration of the physical, chemical, biological, bacteriological, or radiological properties of the waters, soils, animal, fish and aquatic life or surface property of this state as will:(A) Result or will likely result in harm, potential harm, or detriment to the public health, safety, or welfare. See Tennessee Code 60-1-503
Supervisor: means the commissioner or the commissioner's designee. See Tennessee Code 60-1-503
written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(b) The supervisor shall exercise the following powers to:
(1) Adopt rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this part in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5;(2) Make inspections of drilling operations and require the keeping of accurate records;(3) Require that the location, drilling, deepening, reworking, reopening, casing and plugging of mineral test holes subject to this part be accomplished in a manner which prevents surface and underground pollution;(4) Require on all mineral test holes the keeping of data and the filing of such data with the supervisor which are appropriate to the purposes of this chapter. Oil, gas and hydrologic data obtained from the drilling of mineral test holes are deemed appropriate to the purposes of this part. This information shall be held confidential by the supervisor for a period of six (6) months at the request of the operator;(5) Release to the board for meetings and hearings only data which are necessary to the administration of this part;(6) Order by written notice, the immediate suspension or prompt correction of any operation, condition, or practice found to exist which is causing or resulting in, or threatening to cause or result in, surface or underground pollution. Orders shall remain in force until cancelled by the supervisor, or modified by the board, or the courts;(7) Require the filing of adequate surety or security bonds and to provide for the release thereof;(8) Qualify persons for blanket permits; and(9) Bring proceedings at law or in equity for the enforcement of this part and rules, regulations or orders promulgated thereunder in the circuit or chancery court of the county in which a violation is alleged to have occurred.
