BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4120

By: Guillen

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Constituents in House District 31 have raised concerns in efforts to increase the efficiency of injection well maintenance. Currently, operation managers must drive long distances to check on the maintenance, reliability, and productive nature of a well's operation in person. H.B. 4120 seeks to address this issue by providing for such inspection checks to be conducted through aerial or satellite imagery.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4120 amends the Water Code to authorize the executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to satisfy the inspection requirements for a proposed Class I injection well by accepting an inspection report prepared by an engineer or geoscientist licensed in Texas. The bill sets out the following with respect to such a report:

·         a requirement that the report confirm that the engineer or geoscientist inspected the location of the proposed injection well to determine the local conditions and the probable effect of the well;

·         a requirement that the report state the engineer's or geoscientist's determination regarding the applicable requirements for the setting of casing; and

·         an authorization for the engineer or geoscientist to conduct the inspection in person at the location of the proposed injection well or virtually through aerial imagery, mapping software, or other appropriate information sources.

The bill applies only to a permit application filed with the TCEQ on or after the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.