561—17.3(458A) Permit to drill, deepen or plug a well.

1. 17.3(1)  Application to drill, deepen, or plug a well. An owner or other entity seeking to drill, deepen, or plug a well may apply for a permit under this rule by submitting to the department an application on a form prescribed by the department. One application may be filed for a group or series of exploratory wells within a designated area. The application for each well or group of exploratory wells shall be accompanied by the following:

   1. a. A fee of $50 for a production well, or a fee of $200 for an individual or group of exploratory wells.
   2. b. An organization report as described in 561—17.5(458A).
   3. c. A bond as described in Iowa Code section 458A.4(1)“d” if one is not already on file with the department. The bond shall have a clearly noted period of coverage, or be renewed annually with notation of such.

   4. d. A map prepared by a licensed surveyor or engineer. The map shall be to scale and shall show the distance from:

      1. (1) The two nearest lease lines,
      2. (2) The two nearest section lines, and
      3. (3) The nearest completed or drilling wells on the same lease.
   5. e. A model or quantitative data of the area of influence of each well with sufficient information for the department to comply with its duties related to the production of oil, gas, and minerals, including but not limited to establishing spacing that meets the requirements of Iowa Code section 458A.7. The department may delay this requirement through a permit condition until such time as required for production.
   6. f. Copies of each agreement with landowners pertinent to the well’s location and area of influence, including maps showing the boundaries of each agreement. The department may delay this requirement relative to area of influence through a permit condition until such time as required for production.
   7. g. In the case of a group of stratigraphic test wells, a plat of the general area to be covered by township and range listing the approximate number and depth of the holes, and outlining the parcels where drilling is contemplated. The plat shall indicate the nature of the applicant’s property interest in each parcel where drilling is contemplated.

2. 17.3(2)  Approval or denial of permit; appeals.

   1. a. The department shall, within 90 days of receipt of a complete application unless otherwise required to protect the environment or human health, grant a permit when such an application shows the drilling, deepening, or plugging of a well is consistent with this chapter and related laws. Unless extended in writing by the department, the permit shall expire one year from the date of issue if the work for which the permit was issued is not being actively pursued.
   2. b. A permit application will be denied for being incomplete or for otherwise being inconsistent with this chapter and related laws.
   3. c. Any aggrieved party may appeal the department’s decision to approve or deny a permit application in accordance with 561—Chapter 7. The notice of appeal must be filed within 30 days following the issuance of the permit unless the appellant shows good cause for failure to receive actual notice and file within the allowed time.
3. 17.3(3)  Injection wells. Per 40 CFR Section 144.26, oil- and gas-related injection wells are used to inject fluids associated with oil and gas production. The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Underground Injection Control Program Director for Region 7 is the permitting authority for underground injection of substances in the state of Iowa and shall be notified of any proposed injection wells.

An owner or other entity seeking to drill a well shall obtain from the department a permit to drill, deepen, or plug a well prior to commencement of operations to drill, deepen, or plug any well.

[ARC 9442C, IAB 7/23/25, effective 8/27/25]