886,695 net acres as of 12/31/09.

(leases purchased from Chesapeake Energy). 487,000 net acres as of 2/21/11.

55,631 net acres as of 4/3/08.

Lawrence Bengal, Director.
AOGC provides regulatory control over most aspects of development of the Fayetteville Shale Play. It is involved with seismic exploration, integration of leases/defining production units, drilling activities and construction standards, gathering lines (well to compressor), disposal of water, well completion and production reports, and well closure (dry hole or end-of-life). A Google map of every Arkansas gas and oil well's location, production, ownership, and status is at http://www.aogc.state.ar.us/Maps.htm. Waste infection wells are also mapped.

Teresa Marks, Director.
ADEQ regulates the construction, use, and closure of reserve pits. Reserve pits are on the drilling site and are used for temporary storage of cutting material removed from the well bore during drilling operations.
ADEQ is the permitting authority for the land application of drilling fluids. Although the oil and gas industry is exempt from permitting requirements associated with stormwater runoff for sites smaller than five acres, they are still required to prevent sediment runoff and remain subject to state laws regarding degradation of water quality. This is also a requirement in the general permit for reserve pits.

Randy Young, Director.
The ANRC is responsible for wellhead and groundwater protection. It is the permitting agency for construction of dams 25 feet or more in height. Arkansas Law mandates that all water development projects receive certification of compliance with the Arkansas Water Plan from the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission.
Arkansas Law requires all diverters of surface water (streams, lakes, ponds, etc.) to register their diversion of surface water by quantity, location, type of use and name of user on an annual basis with ARNC. Exceptions to this rule are withdrawals of less than one acre-foot a year, diffused surface water or those natural lakes or ponds in exclusive ownership of one person.

Enforcer of environmental laws.

(U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development). This document describes the motivation for this study "to help evaluate potential risks associated with hydraulic fracturing in the Agency’s efforts to protect America’s resources and communities." This document also defines hydraulic fracturing and describes the connection between water and hydraulic fracturing.

(Arkansas Public Policy Panel, February 2011)

(Earthworks)

(Natural Resources Defense Council, updated January 2010)

(OERB)

(theEcologistTV)

(James Northrup, 2013)
Landowner Issues

(Earthworks, The Oil and Gas Accountability Project, 2005)

(Elizabeth Radow, NY State Bar Ass'n Journal, 2011)

(Marcellus Effect Blog, August 9, 2013)

(AlterNet, May 8, 2013)

(Union of Concerned Scientists, 2013)