The plugging or replugging of a well or reclamation of a well site by the commission, its agents, employees, or contractors, shall not prevent the commission from seeking penalties or other relief provided by law from any person who is required by statutes, rules, or order of the commission to plug or replug a well or reclaim the surface.
38-08-04.11. Cash bond fund for plugging oil and gas wells and reclamation of oil and gas well sites - Appropriation. 1. There is hereby created a cash bond fund for the plugging of abandoned oil and gas wells and the reclamation of abandoned oil and gas well sites. 2. From all moneys held or controlled by the commission under paragraph 4 of subdivision a of subsection 1 of section 38-08-04, there is to be deposited in the cash bond fund such amount as determined by the commission but such amount may not exceed an amount equal to an annual return of two percent of the cash bond deposit. 3. Moneys in the cash bond fund are hereby appropriated to the commission to be used for the following purposes: a. Defraying costs incurred in the plugging of abandoned oil and gas wells, and related activities.
b. Defraying costs incurred in the reclamation of abandoned oil and gas drilling and production sites, saltwater disposal pits, drilling fluid pits, and access roads, and related activities.