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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study regarding the odorization of natural gas |
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transported in gathering and transmission lines located in |
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populated areas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "commission" means the |
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Railroad Commission of Texas. |
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(b) The commission shall conduct a study regarding the |
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odorization of natural gas transported in gathering and |
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transmission lines located in populated areas. At a minimum, the |
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study must include an examination of: |
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(1) the costs and benefits associated with odorizing |
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natural gas under those circumstances, including any specific |
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circumstances under which the benefits exceed the costs; |
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(2) the chemical malodorants and odorization |
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techniques that are available; |
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(3) any specific circumstances under which |
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odorization is an effective method for leak detection; |
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(4) any product markets that are incompatible with the |
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use of malodorants; |
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(5) state and federal odorization requirements, |
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including exemptions from those requirements; and |
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(6) alternative leak detection methods. |
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(c) At the commission's request, a state agency or local |
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government shall provide information and assistance in conducting |
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the study under this section. |
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(d) Not later than December 1, 2012, the commission shall |
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report the results of the study conducted under this section to the |
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lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
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the presiding officer of the standing committee of the senate with |
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primary jurisdiction over matters affecting natural resources, and |
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the presiding officer of the standing committee of the house of |
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representatives with primary jurisdiction over matters affecting |
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energy resources. |
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SECTION 2. This Act expires January 1, 2013. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |