The Oklahoma Supreme Court has more narrowly defined its ruling against Kingfisher County Commissioners in a fight over temporary water lines used for oil and gas drilling in the county. And the effect is the same—a ruling against the county commission.
In a second ruling this week, the justices voided the county commission’s resolution issued in April to ban the use of the poly-lines laid in roadside ditches. It was another ruling affecting the oil and gas industry in a county that is one of the more prolific oil producers that make up Oklahoma’s STACK play.
The November ruling was considered a victory for the state’s oil and gas industry. But Kingfisher county commissioners asked the court to reconsider, claiming state law gave them the authority to govern road use. However, the ruling by the court said the commission’s challenge didn’t meet the test of law.
The court said the controversy over the poly lines does not involve the use of county roads. And the justices said the issue remains under the authority of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
The Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association-Oklahoma Oil and Gas Association filed suit against the county commissioners.
Chad Warmington, president of the association told The Oklahoman he was not surprised at the latest ruling.
“The court’s ruling clearly defines what local governments can and cannot regulate, providing clarity for the oil and natural gas industry by eliminating the possibility of a patchwork of regulations that vary from county to county.”