BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 1420
By: Orr (Averitt)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Drill cuttings result from the drilling of new oil and gas wells and are a mixture of the various lubricating agents put into the well during drilling and of the materials picked up and created within the well after it has been drilled. As such, the mixture is extremely slick and can cause real problems when spilled onto roadways. Such spillage most frequently occurs when the material is being transported away from drilling sites.
H.B. 1420 makes it a Class B misdemeanor for a person or the person's agent or employee to operate a motor vehicle that is used to transport a load of oil and gas drill cuttings generated from a closed loop drilling waste operation and the load is not completely sealed.
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 Subchapter B, Chapter 725, Transportation Code, by adding Section 725.023, as follows:
Sec. 725.023. REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSPORTING OIL AND GAS DRILL CUTTINGS FROM CLOSED LOOP DRILLING WASTE OPERATIONS; OFFENSE. (a) Provides that a person commits an offense if the person or the person's agent or employee operates a motor vehicle that is used to transport a load of oil and gas drill cuttings generated from a closed loop drilling waste operation and the vehicle is not equipped and maintained in a manner that prevents the drill cuttings from escaping from the vehicle or being deposited on a public road or highway by the vehicle.
(b) Provides that an offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2009.