By Walker H.B. No. 340
76R1162 MCK-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the exemption from permitting requirements for certain
1-3 wells in a groundwater conservation district.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 36.117(a), Water Code, is amended to read
1-6 as follows:
1-7 (a) A district may exempt wells from the requirements to
1-8 obtain a drilling permit, an operating permit, or any other permit
1-9 required by this chapter or the district's rules. A district may
1-10 not require a permit for:
1-11 (1) drilling or producing from a well either drilled,
1-12 completed, or equipped so that it is incapable of producing more
1-13 than 25,000 gallons of groundwater a day;
1-14 (2) the drilling or alteration of the size of a well
1-15 or to restrict the production of a well if the water produced or to
1-16 be produced from the well is used or to be used to supply the
1-17 domestic needs of 10 or fewer households and a person who is a
1-18 member of each household is either the owner of the well, a person
1-19 related to the owner or a member of the owner's household within
1-20 the second degree by consanguinity, or an employee of the owner;
1-21 (3) the drilling or alteration of the size of a well
1-22 or to restrict the production from the well if the water produced
1-23 or to be produced from the well is used or to be used to provide
1-24 water for feeding livestock and poultry connected with farming,
2-1 ranching, or dairy enterprises; or
2-2 (4) water wells to supply water for hydrocarbon
2-3 production activities, regardless of whether those wells are
2-4 producing, that are associated with any well permitted by the
2-5 Railroad Commission of Texas drilled before September 1, 1985[; or]
2-6 [(5) jet wells used for domestic needs].
2-7 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-8 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-9 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-10 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-11 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-12 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.