Bill Text: TX SB692 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to exemptions from groundwater conservation district permit requirements.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-05-09 - Effective immediately [SB692 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-SB692-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Relating to exemptions from groundwater conservation district permit requirements.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-05-09 - Effective immediately [SB692 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-SB692-Introduced.html
82R1536 SGA-F | ||
By: Estes | S.B. No. 692 |
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relating to exemptions from groundwater conservation district | ||
permit requirements. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Sections 36.117(a), (b), (c), (d), (f), (h), | ||
(i), (j), and (k), Water Code, are amended to read as follows: | ||
(a) A district by rule may provide an exemption [ |
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drilling permit, an operating permit, or any other permit required | ||
by this chapter or the district's rules. | ||
(b) Except as provided by this section, a [ |
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provide an exemption from the district requirement to obtain a [ |
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(1) drilling or operating a well used solely for | ||
domestic use or for providing water for livestock or poultry if the | ||
well is: | ||
(A) located or to be located on a tract of land | ||
larger than 10 acres; and | ||
(B) [ |
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equipped so that it is incapable of producing more than 25,000 | ||
gallons of groundwater a day; | ||
(2) [ |
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supply water for a rig that is actively engaged in drilling or | ||
exploration operations for an oil or gas well permitted by the | ||
Railroad Commission of Texas provided that the person holding the | ||
permit is responsible for drilling and operating the water well and | ||
the water well is located on the same lease or field associated with | ||
the drilling rig; or | ||
(3) [ |
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a permit issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas under Chapter | ||
134, Natural Resources Code, or for production from the [ |
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well to the extent the withdrawals are required for mining | ||
activities regardless of any subsequent use of the water. | ||
(c) A district may not restrict the production of water from | ||
any well described by [ |
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Subsection (b)(1). | ||
(d) A [ |
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cancel a previously granted exemption, and may require an operating | ||
permit for or restrict production from a well, [ |
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(1) the [ |
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Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area and the | ||
groundwater withdrawals that were exempted under Subsection (b)(1) | ||
are no longer used solely for domestic use or to provide water for | ||
livestock or poultry; | ||
(2) the groundwater withdrawals that were [ |
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solely to supply water for a rig that is actively engaged in | ||
drilling or exploration operations for an oil or gas well permitted | ||
by the Railroad Commission of Texas; or | ||
(3) the groundwater withdrawals that were [ |
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mining activities or are greater than the amount necessary for | ||
mining activities specified in the permit issued by the Railroad | ||
Commission of Texas under Chapter 134, Natural Resources Code. | ||
(f) A [ |
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[ |
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the drilling of any [ |
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(b)(3) [ |
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(h) A district shall require the owner of a water well to | ||
[ |
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(1) register the well [ |
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with rules promulgated by the district; and | ||
(2) equip and maintain the well [ |
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installation of casing, pipe, and fittings to prevent the escape of | ||
groundwater from a groundwater reservoir to any reservoir not | ||
containing groundwater and to prevent the pollution or harmful | ||
alteration of the character of the water in any groundwater | ||
reservoir. | ||
(i) The driller of a well [ |
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required by Section 1901.251, Occupations Code, and, if available, | ||
the geophysical log. | ||
(j) An exemption provided under Subsection (b) does not | ||
apply to a [ |
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water for a subdivision of land for which a plat approval is | ||
required by Chapter 232, Local Government Code[ |
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(k) Groundwater withdrawn [ |
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with this section and subsequently transported outside the | ||
boundaries of the district is subject to any applicable production | ||
and export fees under Sections 36.122 and 36.205. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |