The Payette Independent-Enterprise newspaper in Western Idaho had a great story recently explaining various improvements to state regulations of the petroleum industry. Click here to read the full story, or continue reading for an excerpt:

Idaho’s new gas regulations have been gathered from the strongest regulations across the nation to ensure the safety of residents who own their mineral rights across the state.

Although other states have had problems with gas companies, John Peiserich, a lawyer from Arkansas who specializes in environmental, oil and gas law and who has been heavily involved with the new state regulations, wants to stress that the gas company is not a foreboding black cloud in the horizon but is something that can truly help the local economy and has the regulations set in place to protect those who call Idaho home.

The temporary rules set in place require gas companies to submit a permit including information certified by a professional engineer that “all aspects of the well construction including the suitability and integrity of the cement used to seal the well are designed to meet the requirements of proposed well.”