PURPOSE: This rule provides for the general practice and procedure of the council, the application of rules promulgated by the council and declares the purpose of these rules. (1) All rules promulgated shall be statewide in application unless otherwise specifically excepted by a written order of the council.

1. (2) Special rules will be promulgated when required and shall take precedence over general rules if in conflict therewith.
2. (3) No order or amendment, except in an emergency, shall be made by the council without a public hearing upon at least ten (10) days’ notice. The public hearing shall be held at a time and place as may be prescribed by the council and any interested person shall be entitled to be heard.
3. (4) When an emergency requiring immediate action is found to exist, the council is authorized to issue an emergency order without notice of hearing, which shall be effective upon promulgation. No emergency order shall remain effective for more than fifteen
4. (15) days.

5. (5) It is hereby declared to be in the public interest—

   1. (A) To foster, to encourage and to promote the orderly and economic development, production and utilization of natural resources of oil and gas;
   2. (B) To authorize and to provide for the operation and development of oil and gas properties in a manner that a greater ultimate recovery of oil and gas be had and that the correlative rights of all owners be fully protected;
   3. (C) To encourage and to authorize the development and use of physical processes to obtain the greatest possible economic recovery of oil and gas in so-called primary, secondary and tertiary operations;
   4. (D) To provide for complete protection of strata containing fresh water or water of present value or probable future value in all wells; and
   5. (E) To provide for the elimination of surface or subsurface pollution or waste during and after drilling, producing and abandonment procedures in all wells.
6. (6) In the interest of conservation of natural resources, waste of oil and gas is prohibited.
7. (7) The state geologist, member of the council or authorized representative shall have the authority to enter property, with the consent of the owner or person in possession, to conduct investigations or inspections as are consistent with the intent of Chapter 259, RSMo.

AUTHORITY: sections 259.070 and 259.140, RSMo 1986.* Original rule filed Oct. 11, 10 CSR 50-1 1966, effective Oct. 21, 1966. Amended: Filed Sept. 12, 1973, effective Sept. 22, 1973. Amended: Filed Sept. 13, 1983, effective Dec. 11, 1983.

*Original authority: 259.070, RSMo 1965, amended 1972, 1983 and 259.140, RSMo 1965.