A drilling permit shall be obtained to authorize wells for the extraction of oil, gas, geothermal steam or any other subterranean resource except water (water wells are instead subject to Section 23.08.178 of this chapter and Chapter 8.40 of this code), whether for purposes of exploration or production, as follows:
(a) Exploratory Well Permit. Exploratory wells are those drilled to explore for subterranean resources, including verifying their location, extent, or determining the feasibility of commercial extraction.
(1) Minor use permit approval is required for an exploratory resource extraction well, except as provided by subsection (a)(2) of this section.
(2) Development plan approval is required where drilling is proposed:
(A) Within an urban or village reserve line;
(B) Within the residential suburban land use category;
(C) Within a sensitive resource area;
(D) When exploration for, or extraction of any resource other than oil, gas or geothermal steam is proposed.
(b) Production Well Permit. Production wells are permanent installations for the extraction and preparation for transportation of a proven resource.
(1) Development plan approval is required for establishing any new oilfield, other resource extraction production area, or to reopen a field that has been unused for twelve months or more, that involves single or multiple wells and related facilities.
(2) Minor use permit approval is required where an additional well is proposed in an existing oilfield, as identified by the California Department of Conservation, Division of Oil and Gas.
(c) Application Content. In addition to the information required for applications by Chapter 23.02, drilling permit applications are to also describe:
(1) Location and dimensions of wells, well pads and earthen sumps, location of roads and associated improvements (including housing), locations of any pipelines or storage tanks and pump facilities.
(2) Identification of the type of drilling equipment (e.g., portable or fixed) intended to be used in the drilling activities.
(3) When landscaping plans are required by Chapter 23.02, they shall include measures proposed for screening producing wells and permanent equipment from the view of public roads or residential uses, revegetation of all cut and fill banks, and restoration of disturbed areas of the site not directly related to oil and gas production.
(4) Proposed erosion control measures.
(5) All development associated with the proposed well and associated facilities and how that development complies with the standards of this title.
(6) If another public agency must also approve the proposed facility, the applicant shall also provide:
(A) A brief description of the nature and scope of the requirements of that agency, including the agency’s procedures for acting on the proposed use.
(B) A schedule for applications and approvals for actions by other responsible agencies.
(C) A copy of all necessary state and federal permits and associated conditions of approval issued by the agencies listed prior to the submittal of the application.
(7) An applicant may incorporate by reference any information developed or submitted in any other application, provided the applicant submits a copy or summary of the referenced material, identifies the permitting process in which it was submitted and the outcome of that permitting process, and explains the relevance of the information to the approval standards of this title. (Ord. 2592 § 9 (part), 1992)