MINERALS: Provides relative to remediation of oilfield and exploration and production sites

House Bill 602 modifies the process for evaluating and cleaning up environmental damage at oilfield and exploration and production sites, directly affecting parties involved in such lawsuits and the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. When environmental damage is determined, the responsible party must propose a remediation plan, with other parties able to submit alternatives. The Department reviews these plans, applying regulatory standards like the Risk Evaluation and Corrective Action Program (RECAP) to approve the "most feasible plan." The bill also clarifies that the Department is not required to obtain landowner consent to apply certain exceptions, including RECAP, and courts will adopt the Department's approved plan unless it is proven arbitrary and capricious and another plan is more feasible.