By Counts H.B. No. 2409 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to restrictions on artificial recharge of the Edwards 1-3 Aquifer. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 1.44, Chapter 626, Acts of the 73rd 1-6 Legislature, Regular Session, 1993, is amended by adding Subsection 1-7 (e) to read as follows: 1-8 (e) The authority may contract for injection or artificial 1-9 recharge under this section only if provision is made for 1-10 protecting and maintaining the quality of groundwater in the 1-11 receiving part of the aquifer, and: 1-12 (1) the water used for artificial recharge is 1-13 groundwater withdrawn from the aquifer; or 1-14 (2) the water is recharged through a natural recharge 1-15 feature. 1-16 SECTION 2. Section 27.051, Water Code, is amended by adding 1-17 Subsection (h) to read as follows: 1-18 (h) The commission may not authorize by rule or permit an 1-19 injection well that transects or terminates in the Edwards Aquifer. 1-20 The commission by rule may authorize injection of groundwater 1-21 withdrawn from the Edwards Aquifer, or injections of storm water, 1-22 flood water, or groundwater through improved sinkholes or caves 1-23 located in karst topographic areas. For purposes of this 1-24 subsection, "Edwards Aquifer" has the meaning assigned by Section 2-1 26.046(a). 2-2 SECTION 3. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 2-3 (b) The change in law made by Section 27.051(h), Water Code, 2-4 as added by this Act, applies only to an application for a permit 2-5 that is filed with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation 2-6 Commission on or after September 1, 2001.