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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the reduction of methane gas flaring on land dedicated |
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to the permanent university fund. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 66, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 66.455 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 66.455. METHANE FLARING REDUCTION POLICY. The board |
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of regents of The University of Texas System shall adopt a formal |
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policy goal to eliminate routine methane flaring on university |
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lands by 2027. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 66, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 66.711 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 66.711. METHANE FLARING REDUCTION PLANS. (a) Under |
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each lease issued, modified, or renewed under this subchapter |
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relating to oil or gas, the lessee shall submit to the board a plan |
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to end routine methane flaring in accordance with the policy goal |
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adopted by the board of regents under Section 66.455. The plan |
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must: |
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(1) include provisions that prohibit routine methane |
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flaring; |
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(2) for all new and existing sources, require |
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operators to adhere to the United States Environmental Protection |
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Agency's new source performance standards for methane emissions; |
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and |
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(3) require the lessee to implement quarterly |
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inspections and maintenance for the detection of malfunctioning and |
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unlit flares using leak detection equipment, such as optical gas |
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imaging cameras, and for the repair of those flares. |
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(b) The board shall review and approve or reject each plan |
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submitted under Subsection (a) according to procedures adopted by |
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the board. The University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology shall |
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assist the board and lessees in matters relating to the plans. |
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(c) In adopting procedures to implement this section, the |
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board may apply to new facilities and existing facilities that have |
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been modified after initial construction more stringent standards |
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than the standards the board applies to other facilities. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than June 1, 2024, the Board for Lease |
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of University Lands shall adopt procedures implementing Section |
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66.711, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |