Application to drill oil or gas well--Permit--Rules and regulations of board--Fee, disposition--Agreement with surface owner

Without limiting its general authority, the Board of Minerals and Environment, by rules promulgated pursuant to chapter 1-26 , may require or may delegate to the secretary, specific authority to require that an operator drilling a well for oil or gas shall first file an application to drill with the secretary and obtain a permit from the secretary before drilling. The operator shall pay a fee of one hundred dollars which shall be placed in the environment and natural resources fee fund established pursuant to §