SRC-SEW S.B. 1019 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1019
77R7864 QS-FBy: Armbrister
Natural Resources
3/17/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the number of known abandoned and improperly plugged oil and gas
wells in Texas is rising. The number has increased  from 21,000 such wells
in 1992 to 26,000 in 1999, and it is estimated that six new wells are
illegally abandoned every day, significantly polluting the groundwater in
54 Texas counties.  The Texas Railroad Commission also currently projects
the number of wells plugged annually will steadily decrease in the future.
In the 1990s an average of 1380 wells were plugged annually, but that
figure will decrease to 790 in 2002 and to 735 in 2003.  

At the same time, the number of barrels of oil produced in Texas has
decreased from 3.4 million a day in the 1970s to a current 1 million a day.
In the future, the oil industry may not be able to raise the money
necessary to protect groundwater resources and return the surface of the
land to a condition suitable for other uses, putting the burden on
taxpayers.  Texas is currently one of only a few states that do not require
blanket bonds from well operators.  As proposed, S.B. 1019 increases
oil-field cleanup regulatory fees on oil and gas produced in Texas and
requires blanket bonds from all oil well operators in Texas, providing an
additional $13 million annually to the Oilfield Cleanup Fund and allowing,
under a 10-year plan, all 26,000 abandoned oil wells to be plugged.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 81.116(a), Natural Resources Code, to provide
that an oil-field cleanup regulatory fee is imposed on crude petroleum
produced in this state in the amount of fifteensixteenths (rather than
five-sixteenths) of one cent on each barrel of 42 standard gallons. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 81.117(a), Natural Resources Code, to provide
that an oil-field cleanup regulatory fee is imposed on gas initially
produced and saved in this state in the amount of onetenth (rather than
one-thirtieth) of one cent for each thousand cubic feet. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Sections 85.2021(a) and (c), Natural Resources Code, as
follows: 

(a) Requires the applicant, with each application or materially amended
application for a permit to drill, deepen, plug back, or reenter a well, to
submit to the Railroad Commission of Texas (commission) certain increased
nonrefundable fees. 

(c) Requires an applicant, with each application for an extension of time
to plug a well pursuant to commission rules, to submit to the commission a
nonrefudable fee of $400, rather than $100.  Deletes text regarding bonds
filed under Section 91.1041 or 91.1042. 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 89.002(a)(2), Natural Resources Code, to
redefine "operator." 
 
SECTION 5.  Amends Sections 89.011, 91.103, 91.104, and 91.1041, Natural
Resources Code, as follows: 

Sec. 89.011.  Sets forth guidelines concerning the duties of the operator
of a well.  Authorizes an operator to apply for an extension of time to
plug a well.  Requires the operator to be in compliance with all laws and
commission rules and to demonstrate that the well and associated facilities
are not a pollution hazard.  Authorizes the commission to approve an
application for an extension of time to plug a well for a certain period
and prohibits an operator from receiving extensions longer than two years,
except under certain conditions. 

Sec. 91.103.  New heading:  PERSONS REQUIRED TO EXECUTE BOND.  Requires
those persons required to file an organization report under Section 91.142
of this code to execute and file with the commission a bond as required by
Section 91.104.  Deletes language regarding an alternate form of financial
security. 

Sec. 91.104.  New heading:  BONDS.  Deletes text regarding alternate forms
of security. Authorizes a person required to file a bond under Section
91.103 to choose to file either an individual bond or a blanket bond under
certain conditions.  Deletes text regarding the filing of fees, liens, and
any form of financial security other than a bond. 

Sec. 91.1041.  Authorizes a person required to file a bond under Section
91.103 who operates one or more wells to file a bond in an amount equal to
$3, rather than $2 for each foot of well depth for each well. 

SECTION 6.  Amends Section 91.111(c), Natural Resources Code, to make a
conforming change. 

SECTION 7.  Amends Section 91.143(a), Natural Resources Code, to prohibit a
person from making or subscribing any application, report, or other
documentation required or permitted to be filed with the commission by the
provisions of Title 102, Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, 1925, as amended,
including provisions of this code formerly included in that title, knowing
or negligently failing to ascertain whether or not the application, report,
or other document is false or untrue in a material fact.  Makes conforming
changes. 

SECTION 8.  Repealer:  Section 91.107 (New Bond or Alternate Form of
Financial Security ), Natural Resources Code. 

SECTION 9.  (a) Effective date:  September 1, 2001.  

(b) Makes application of Section 85.2021 (regarding applications), Natural
Resources Code, as amended by this Act, prospective. 

(c) Makes application of Sections 91.103, 91.104, and 91.1041 (regarding
bonds filed), Natural Resources Code, as amended by this Act, prospective. 

(d) Makes application of Section 91.143 (regarding violations committed or
elements of violations committed), Natural Resources Code, as amended by
this Act, prospective.