Bill Text: TX SB517 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to notice of an application for a permit to drill an injection well in the territory of a groundwater conservation district.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-18 - Referred to Agriculture, Water, & Rural Affairs [SB517 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB517-Introduced.html

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By: Uresti S.B. No. 517

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to notice of an application for a permit to drill an
injection well in the territory of a groundwater conservation
district.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 91, Natural Resources
Code, is amended by adding Section 91.118 to read as follows:
Sec. 91.118. NOTICE OF INJECTION WELL PERMIT APPLICATION TO
GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICTS. (a) In this section,
"injection well" means a well that is:
(1) used to inject a substance into the ground; and
(2) not regulated by the commission under Chapter 27,
Water Code.
(b) If the commission receives an application for a permit
for an injection well the proposed location of which is within a
10-mile radius of the territory of a groundwater conservation
district, the commission shall require the applicant to submit with
the application documentation showing that a copy of the
application has been submitted to the governing body of the
groundwater conservation district.
SECTION 2. The heading to Section 27.017, Water Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 27.017. NOTICE TO AND RECOMMENDATIONS FROM OTHER
ENTITIES.
SECTION 3. Section 27.017(b), Water Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) If an application is received in proper form for a
permit for an injection well [to dispose of industrial and
municipal waste] and the proposed location of the injection well is
in within a 10-mile radius of the territory of a groundwater
conservation district, the executive director shall submit a copy
of the application to the governing body of the groundwater
conservation district.
SECTION 4. Section 27.018(e), Water Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(e) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (c),
before any testimony is heard in a contested case regarding an
application for a permit for an injection well [to dispose of
industrial and municipal waste] that is proposed to be located in
within a 10-mile radius of the territory of a groundwater
conservation district, the record of the proceeding must include
evidence that:
(1) a copy of each draft permit proposed by the
executive director was provided to the governing body of the
groundwater conservation district; and
(2) notice of the contested case hearing was mailed to
the governing body of the groundwater conservation district.
SECTION 5. Subchapter C, Chapter 27, Water Code, is amended
by adding Section 27.0322 to read as follows:
Sec. 27.0322. NOTICE TO GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION
DISTRICTS. If the proposed location of an injection well to which
this subchapter applies is within a 10-mile radius of the territory
of a groundwater conservation district, the railroad commission
shall require the applicant to submit with the application
documentation showing that a copy of the application has been
submitted to the governing body of the groundwater conservation
district.
SECTION 6. Subchapter C-1, Chapter 27, Water Code, is
amended by adding Section 27.0441 to read as follows:
Sec. 27.0441. NOTICE TO GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION
DISTRICTS. If the proposed location of an injection well to which
this subchapter applies is within a 10-mile radius of the territory
of a groundwater conservation district, the railroad commission
shall require the applicant to submit with the application
documentation showing that a copy of the application has been
submitted to the governing body of the groundwater conservation
district.
SECTION 7. (a) Not later than March 1, 2016, the Railroad
Commission of Texas and the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality shall adopt rules as necessary to implement the change in
law made by this Act to Chapter 91, Natural Resources Code, and
Chapter 27, Water Code.
(b) The change in law made by this Act to Chapter 91, Natural
Resources Code, and Chapter 27, Water Code, applies only to a permit
application submitted to the Railroad Commission of Texas or the
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on or after the effective
date of the rules adopted under Subsection (a) of this section. A
permit application submitted before the effective date of the rules
adopted under Subsection (a) of this section is governed by the law
in effect when the permit application was submitted, and the former
law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.