Gas Drillers To Ask Idaho To Curb Local Control

Natural gas wildcatters aim to ask lawmakers to stop cities and counties from passing laws meant to halt development of Idaho's emerging oil and natural gas fields.

This foreshadows a possible 2012 legislative fight over how much power local governments should have in their own backyards.

Snake River Oil & Gas, which is exploring for gas in western Idaho, is developing the measure after Washington County proposed an ordinance with strict size limits, expensive bonds, siting restrictions and multi-million-dollar insurance policies, among other things.

Idaho already has temporary state rules governing the industry, with lawmakers next year set to make them permanent.

Snake River attorney John Peiserich said Tuesday that an additional patchwork of new county regulations could doom a nascent Idaho industry before it's off the ground.

Associated Press