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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation by the Railroad Commission of Texas of |
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the use of the surface of land in connection with certain activities |
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associated with the exploration, development, or production of oil |
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or gas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 91, Natural Resources Code, is amended |
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by adding Subchapter P to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER P. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS REGARDING USE OF SURFACE OF |
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LAND IN CONNECTION WITH OIL AND GAS-RELATED ACTIVITIES |
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Sec. 91.701. STANDARDS FOR CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND |
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MAINTENANCE OF ELECTRICAL POWER LINES. (a) An operator shall |
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construct, operate, and maintain an electrical power line serving a |
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well site or other surface facility employed in operations incident |
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to oil and gas development and production in accordance with the |
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National Electrical Code published by the National Fire Protection |
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Association and adopted by the Texas Commission of Licensing and |
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Regulation under Chapter 1305, Occupations Code. |
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(b) An operator shall de-energize an electrical power line |
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to an inactive well or other inactive well-site equipment not later |
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than the 90th day after the date the well or well-site equipment |
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becomes inactive. The operator may re-energize a line to an |
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inactive well or other inactive well-site equipment to restore |
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production from the well, to monitor or control the well, or if the |
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commission approves re-energizing the line. |
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(c) The commission shall post on the commission's website |
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information regarding the standards for construction, operation, |
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and maintenance of electrical power lines described by Subsection |
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(a) that is sufficient to inform an operator regarding how to comply |
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with this section. |
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SECTION 2. The Railroad Commission of Texas shall adopt |
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rules to implement Subchapter P, Chapter 91, Natural Resources |
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Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2008. |
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SECTION 3. An operator is not required to comply with |
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Section 91.701, Natural Resources Code, as added by this Act, until |
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the second anniversary of the date the Railroad Commission of Texas |
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complies with Subsection (c) of that section. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |