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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the inventory and inspection of certain converted |
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wells. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 81, Natural Resources |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 81.0561 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.0561. INVENTORY AND INSPECTION OF CERTAIN WELLS. |
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(a) The commission shall maintain and make publicly available an |
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inventory of wells originally drilled or operated as an oil or gas |
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well under a permit issued by the commission and subsequently |
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conveyed to a landowner for use as a water well. |
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(b) The commission shall: |
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(1) require a form to be filed with the commission |
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regarding the conveyance of a well described by Subsection (a) to |
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provide notice that the well that is the subject of the conveyance: |
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(A) will be included in the publicly available |
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inventory required by Subsection (a); and |
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(B) may be subject to inspection under Subsection |
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(c); and |
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(2) provide notice to the Texas Commission on |
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Environmental Quality of each form described by Subdivision (1) |
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that is filed. |
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(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), the Texas |
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Commission on Environmental Quality shall inspect a well that is |
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the subject of a form described by Subsection (b) between the 20th |
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and 25th anniversary of the date the form is filed with commission. |
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(d) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not |
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required to perform an inspection under Subsection (c) if the |
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surface owner of the well files with the commission a form |
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certifying that the well is in good working order or has been |
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properly plugged. |
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SECTION 2. Section 81.0561, Natural Resources Code, as |
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added by this Act, applies only to a well for which a form giving |
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notice of the conveyance of a well described by Subsection (a) of |
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that section is filed with the Railroad Commission of Texas on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |