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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to notice of applications for permits to drill certain gas |
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wells. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 86, Natural Resources |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 86.044 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 86.044. NOTICE OF CERTAIN GAS WELL PERMIT |
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APPLICATIONS. (a) This section applies only to a gas well proposed |
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to be located in a county that: |
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(1) has a population of more than 50,000; and |
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(2) is located wholly or partly above a |
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hydrocarbon-producing geological formation in which during the |
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preceding year the commission issued more than 1,500 drilling |
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permits authorizing wells to be completed. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), on receipt of the |
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first application for a permit to drill a gas well at a drill site, |
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the commission must provide electronic notice of the application |
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and, on request, by first class mail to: |
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(1) the state senator and representative who represent |
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the area in which the well is proposed to be located; and |
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(2) the following, as applicable: |
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(A) if the well is proposed to be located outside |
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the corporate limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction of a |
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municipality: |
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(i) the member of the commissioners court |
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who represents the county commissioner precinct in which the well |
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is proposed to be located; and |
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(ii) the county judge of the county in which |
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the well is proposed to be located; |
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(B) if the well is proposed to be located in the |
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corporate limits of a municipality, each member of the governing |
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body of the municipality who represents the area in which the well |
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is proposed to be located; or |
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(C) if the well is proposed to be located in the |
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extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality, each member of the |
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governing body of the municipality. |
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(c) The commission is not required to provide notice under |
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this section to a person described by Subsection (b) if the person |
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has waived in writing the right to notice under this section. |
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(d) Notice provided to a public official under this section |
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does not create additional legal standing to contest a permit to |
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drill a gas well. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies only to an application for a |
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permit to drill a gas well that is filed with the Railroad |
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Commission of Texas on or after the effective date of this Act. An |
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application for a permit to drill a gas well that is filed with the |
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commission before the effective date of this Act is governed by the |
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law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, |
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and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |