By: Orr (Senate Sponsor - Averitt) H.B. No. 1420

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 8, 2009; May 8, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources; May 23, 2009, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 23, 2009, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the regulation of the transportation of oil and gas drill cuttings; providing a criminal penalty.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 725, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 725.023 to read as follows:

Sec. 725.023. REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSPORTING OIL AND GAS DRILL CUTTINGS FROM CLOSED LOOP DRILLING WASTE OPERATIONS; OFFENSE. (a) 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) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

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