Bill Text: TX SB1746 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Comm Sub
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to an exemption from the requirement to obtain a permit from a groundwater conservation district for certain temporary water wells.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-06-18 - Effective on 9/1/23 [SB1746 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SB1746-Comm_Sub.html
Bill Title: Relating to an exemption from the requirement to obtain a permit from a groundwater conservation district for certain temporary water wells.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-06-18 - Effective on 9/1/23 [SB1746 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SB1746-Comm_Sub.html
By: Perry | S.B. No. 1746 | |
(In the Senate - Filed March 7, 2023; March 16, 2023, read | ||
first time and referred to Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural | ||
Affairs; April 4, 2023, reported adversely, with favorable | ||
Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; | ||
April 4, 2023, sent to printer.) | ||
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1746 | By: Perry |
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relating to an exemption from the requirement to obtain a permit | ||
from a groundwater conservation district for certain temporary | ||
water wells. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 36.117, Water Code, is amended by | ||
amending Subsections (b) and (d) and adding Subsection (d-1) to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(b) Except as provided by this section, a district shall | ||
provide an exemption from the district requirement to obtain a | ||
permit for: | ||
(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) drilled, completed, or equipped so that it is | ||
incapable of producing more than 25,000 gallons of groundwater a | ||
day; | ||
(2) drilling a water well used 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 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; [ |
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(3) drilling a water well authorized under a permit | ||
issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas under Chapter 134, | ||
Natural Resources Code, or for production from the well to the | ||
extent the withdrawals are required for mining activities | ||
regardless of any subsequent use of the water; or | ||
(4) drilling a water well for temporary use to supply | ||
water for a rig that is actively engaged in drilling a groundwater | ||
production well permitted by the district. | ||
(d) A district may cancel a previously granted exemption and | ||
may require an operating permit for or restrict production from a | ||
well and assess any appropriate fees if: | ||
(1) 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 exempted | ||
under Subsection (b)(2) are no longer used 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; [ |
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(3) the groundwater withdrawals that were exempted | ||
under Subsection (b)(3) are no longer necessary for 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; or | ||
(4) the groundwater withdrawals that were exempted | ||
under Subsection (b)(4) are no longer used solely to supply water | ||
for a rig that is actively engaged in drilling a groundwater | ||
production well permitted by the district. | ||
(d-1) Except as provided by this subsection, an exemption | ||
for a well described by Subsection (b)(4) may not exceed 180 days. | ||
A district may grant an extension of the exemption until the well is | ||
complete. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. | ||
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