Effective Monday, March 23, 2020, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) offices statewide will be closed to the public until further notice. This includes the main office in the Jim Thorpe Building in Oklahoma City, the Regional Office in Tulsa and the District Field Offices around the State. A majority of OCC employees will be working remotely. The OCC is working to determine how it can continue to provide services. Representatives of the OEPA have participated in these ongoing discussions.

In order to continue to provide services to the oil and gas industry, the OCC is taking actions to facilitate operations under these circumstances. The OCC has suspended fax filings but will begin to accept electronic filings via email. In order to make this possible, the OCC is waiving the requirement that filing fees be paid prior to filing. The OCC will also allow electronic signatures on documents.

Establishing procedures for getting permits and conducting hearings is a fluid situation. Further instructions will be available as they are developed. All hearings scheduled for Monday, March 23^rd, will be continued. After Monday, the OCC is encouraging the use of telephonic or videoconferencing to conduct hearings and other business. Attorneys and parties to administrative proceedings will be contacted regarding how to participate in hearings remotely. It is undetermined at this time how protested hearings will be handled.

OEPA will keep you updated as this situation further develops.