Bill Text: TX HB3599 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to restrictions on the siting, drilling, completion, and operation of oil and gas wells in certain locations.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-04-17 - Left pending in committee [HB3599 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HB3599-Introduced.html
83R10707 JXC-D | ||
By: Burnam | H.B. No. 3599 |
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relating to restrictions on the siting, drilling, completion, and | ||
operation of oil and gas wells in certain locations. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 91, Natural Resources | ||
Code, is amended by adding Section 91.021 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 91.021. WELLS IN HIGH-DENSITY AREAS. (a) The | ||
commission shall adopt rules applicable to oil or gas wells drilled | ||
within 1,000 feet of an occupied building. The rules must: | ||
(1) require a person who holds a permit to drill an oil | ||
or gas well within 1,000 feet of an occupied building to: | ||
(A) provide notice to all political subdivisions | ||
in which the well site is located of proposed drilling operations at | ||
the well site; and | ||
(B) conduct a public outreach program to provide | ||
information to nearby residents about proposed drilling operations | ||
at the well site; | ||
(2) establish a process in which a person who holds a | ||
permit to drill an oil or gas well within 1,000 feet of a school, | ||
nursing home, or hospital must give public notice of proposed | ||
drilling operations at the well site and the commission must | ||
conduct a public hearing on the proposed operations before the | ||
operations begin; | ||
(3) require an owner or operator of an oil or gas well | ||
that is drilled within 1,000 feet of an occupied building to: | ||
(A) use closed loop drilling; | ||
(B) comply with liner standards designed to | ||
protect the property on which the building is constructed from | ||
spills; and | ||
(C) hold at least one meeting with any person: | ||
(i) whose residence or place of business is | ||
located within 1,000 feet of the oil or gas well; and | ||
(ii) who requests a meeting with the owner | ||
or operator; and | ||
(4) establish a minimum setback of an oil or gas well | ||
from an occupied building of 500 feet. | ||
(b) The commission and the Texas Commission on | ||
Environmental Quality shall jointly adopt rules to require an owner | ||
or operator of an oil or gas well that is drilled within 1,000 feet | ||
of an occupied building to: | ||
(1) capture gases emitted during the drilling, | ||
completion, and operation of the well to protect occupants of | ||
nearby buildings from emissions and reduce odors; and | ||
(2) limit noise, dust, and light emitted during the | ||
drilling, completion, and operation of the well to maximum levels | ||
established by the commission and the Texas Commission on | ||
Environmental Quality. | ||
(c) The commission may cooperate with the Texas Commission | ||
on Environmental Quality as necessary to implement this section. | ||
SECTION 2. The Railroad Commission of Texas and the Texas | ||
Commission on Environmental Quality shall adopt rules to implement | ||
Section 91.021, Natural Resources Code, as added by this Act, as | ||
soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |