Bill Text: TX SB257 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to the reduction of methane gas flaring on land dedicated to the permanent university fund.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-02-15 - Referred to Natural Resources & Economic Development [SB257 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB257-Introduced.html
  88R834 CXP-D
 
  By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 257
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the reduction of methane gas flaring on land dedicated
  to the permanent university fund.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 66, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 66.455 to read as follows:
         Sec. 66.455.  METHANE FLARING REDUCTION PLANS. (a) The
  board of regents of The University of Texas System shall adopt a
  formal policy goal to eliminate routine methane flaring on
  university lands by 2027.
         (b)  Under each lease issued, modified, or renewed under this
  subchapter relating to oil or gas, the lessee shall submit to the
  board of regents of The University of Texas System a plan to end
  routine methane flaring in accordance with the policy goal adopted
  under Subsection (a). The plan must:
               (1)  include provisions that prohibit routine methane
  flaring;
               (2)  for all new and existing sources, require
  operators to adhere to the United States Environmental Protection
  Agency's new source performance standards for methane emissions;
  and
               (3)  require the lessee to implement quarterly
  inspections and maintenance for the detection of malfunctioning and
  unlit flares using leak detection equipment, such as optical gas
  imaging cameras, and for the repair of those flares.
         (c)  The board of regents of The University of Texas System
  shall review and approve or reject each plan submitted under
  Subsection (b) according to procedures adopted by the board. The
  University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology shall assist the
  board and lessees in matters relating to the plans.
         (d)  In adopting procedures to implement this section, the
  board of regents of The University of Texas System may apply to new
  facilities and existing facilities that have been modified after
  initial construction more stringent standards than the standards
  the board applies to other facilities.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than June 1, 2024, the board of regents
  of The University of Texas System shall adopt procedures
  implementing Section 66.455, Education Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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