77R11358 SGA-F
By Walker H.B. No. 3037
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3037:
By Walker C.S.H.B. No. 3037
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the regulation of spacing and production of wells by a
1-3 groundwater conservation district.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 36.116, Water Code, is amended to read as
1-6 follows:
1-7 Sec. 36.116. REGULATION OF SPACING AND PRODUCTION. (a) In
1-8 order to minimize as far as practicable the drawdown of the water
1-9 table or the reduction of artesian pressure, to control subsidence,
1-10 to prevent interference between wells, to prevent degradation of
1-11 water quality, or to prevent waste, a district by rule may
1-12 regulate:
1-13 (1) [provide for] the spacing of water wells by:
1-14 (A) requiring that a well be spaced a certain
1-15 distance from property lines or adjacent wells;
1-16 (B) requiring that a well with a certain
1-17 production capacity, pump size, or other characteristic related to
1-18 the construction or operation of the well be spaced a certain
1-19 distance from property lines or adjacent wells; or
1-20 (C) adopting other spacing requirements; and
1-21 (2) the production of groundwater by:
1-22 (A) limiting total annual production;
1-23 (B) limiting the amount of water that may be
1-24 produced based on acreage or tract size;
2-1 (C) limiting the amount of water that may be
2-2 produced from a maximum number of acres assigned by the district to
2-3 an authorized well site;
2-4 (D) limiting the maximum amount of water that
2-5 may be produced from a number of acres assigned by the district on
2-6 an acre-foot-per-acre or gallons-per-minute basis for an authorized
2-7 well site; or
2-8 (E) adopting other production limits [and may
2-9 regulate the production of wells].
2-10 (b) Any spacing or production requirements adopted by a
2-11 district under Subsection (a) do not apply to a dewatering or
2-12 monitoring well drilled for mining purposes under a permit issued
2-13 by the Railroad Commission of Texas.
2-14 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-15 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-16 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
2-17 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-18 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.