Bill Text: TX HB3417 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to the criteria considered by groundwater conservation districts before granting or denying a permit.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2017-05-08 - Referred to Agriculture, Water, & Rural Affairs [HB3417 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB3417-Engrossed.html
| 85R23032 GRM-F | ||
| By: King of Uvalde | H.B. No. 3417 | |
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| relating to the criteria considered by groundwater conservation | ||
| districts before granting or denying a permit. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Section 36.113(d), Water Code, is amended to | ||
| read as follows: | ||
| (d) This subsection does not apply to the renewal of an | ||
| operating permit issued under Section 36.1145. Before granting or | ||
| denying a permit, or a permit amendment issued in accordance with | ||
| Section 36.1146, the district shall consider whether: | ||
| (1) the application conforms to the requirements | ||
| prescribed by this chapter and is accompanied by the prescribed | ||
| fees; | ||
| (2) the proposed use of water unreasonably affects: | ||
| (A) existing groundwater and surface water | ||
| resources; [ |
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| (B) existing permit holders; or | ||
| (C) wells that are exempt from the requirement to | ||
| obtain a permit under this chapter or district rules; | ||
| (3) the proposed use of water is dedicated to any | ||
| beneficial use; | ||
| (4) the proposed use of water is consistent with the | ||
| district's approved management plan; | ||
| (5) if the well will be located in the Hill Country | ||
| Priority Groundwater Management Area, the proposed use of water | ||
| from the well is wholly or partly to provide water to a pond, lake, | ||
| or reservoir to enhance the appearance of the landscape; | ||
| (6) the applicant has agreed to avoid waste and | ||
| achieve water conservation; and | ||
| (7) the applicant has agreed that reasonable diligence | ||
| will be used to protect groundwater quality and that the applicant | ||
| will follow well plugging guidelines at the time of well closure. | ||
| 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, 2017. | ||
