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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to notice of and action on applications for permits to |
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drill certain gas 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 AND ACTION ON 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 1.4 million; 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 2,000 drilling |
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permits authorizing wells to be completed. |
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(b) On receipt of an application for a permit to drill a gas |
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well, the commission must provide notice of the application, |
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together with a copy of the application, by first class mail to: |
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(1) the state senator and representative who represent |
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the general 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) each member of the commissioners court of the |
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county in which the well is proposed to be located, if the well is |
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proposed to be located outside the corporate limits or |
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extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality; or |
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(B) each member of the governing body of the |
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municipality, if the well is proposed to be located in the corporate |
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limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality. |
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(c) The commission may not issue a permit to drill a gas well |
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before the 14th day after the date the commission mails notice of |
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the application for the permit under Subsection (b). |
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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. |