K.S.A. » Chapter 55
Kansas Statutes Annotated

K.S.A. § 55-156 (2026)

Protection of water prior to abandoning of well; penalty for noncompliance

✓ current as of May 2026
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55-156. Protection of water prior to abandoning of well; penalty for noncompliance. Prior to the abandonment of any well which has been drilled, is being drilled or may hereafter be drilled, the operator shall protect usable groundwater or surface water from pollution and from loss through downward drainage by plugging the well, in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the commission. Failure to comply with such rules and regulations shall be a severity level 10, nonperson felony.

History: L. 1982, ch. 228, § 9; L. 1993, ch. 291, § 228; July 1.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2015–2026 · leading case: John M. Denman Oil Co. v. State Corp. Comm'n of the State, 342 P.3d 958 (Kan. Ct. App. 2015).
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John M. Denman Oil Co. v. State Corp. Comm'n of the State, 342 P.3d 958 (Kan. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 2× “55-156, provides that the operator “protect usable groundwater or surface water from pollution and from loss through downward drainage by plugging the well, in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by” the KCC.”
Rob Tinsley Props., LLC v. Daylight Petroleum, LLC; Daylight Petroleum, LLC v. Ronald L. Johnson (D. Kan. 2026). · cites it 2× “Daylight alleges the following claims for relief: (1) negligence per se on the basis of K.S.A. § 55-156, which “requires the operator of any well to plug said well in accordance with the rules and regulations of the [KCC] prior to abandoning said well,”3 (2) negligence for…”
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