LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 20, 2007

TO:	Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3838 by Gonzalez Toureilles (Relating to regulation of injection wells used for in situ uranium recovery by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. ), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would provide  that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) would have exclusive jurisdiction and regulation authority for in situ uranium mining wells used to develop areas subject to a permit. Wells associated with in situ uranium mining would be required to register with the TCEQ, but the registration requirement would cease if the well is included in an area permit issued by the agency. An applicant would be required to share any geologic, hydrologic, and water quality data concerning wells where application is made for an area permit with the appropriate groundwater conservation district.   

Passage of the bill is not expected to result in significant increased workload at the TCEQ or to the Railroad Commision.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

455 Railroad Commission, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality

LBB Staff:

JOB, ZS, WK, TL