BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2201

By: Ashby

Energy Resources

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The community surrounding a proposed waste disposal site in San Augustine County recently had widespread concerns that the proposed project could pollute groundwater because of its location in the floodplain. C.S.H.B. 2201 seeks to address the community's concerns by requiring the Railroad Commission of Texas to establish rules formalizing their current practice of considering recent flood history when determining the location of a commercial oil and gas waste facility.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Railroad Commission of Texas in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2201 amends the Natural Resources Code to require the Railroad Commission of Texas by rule to establish standards governing permissible locations for pits used by commercial oil and gas disposal facilities. The rules must include a history of flooding in the 10 years preceding the construction of the pit as a factor in determining whether a pit's proposed location is permissible.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2201 differs from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways by conforming to certain bill drafting conventions.