| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to exemptions from permitting by groundwater conservation |
|
|
districts of the drilling and operation of certain water wells. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 36.117(b), Water Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
(b) A district may not require any permit issued by the |
|
|
district for: |
|
|
(1) a well used solely for domestic use or for |
|
|
providing water for livestock or poultry, if the well is: |
|
|
(A) located on a tract of land larger than 10 |
|
|
acres; and |
|
|
(B) [that is either] drilled, completed, or |
|
|
equipped so that it is incapable of producing more than 25,000 |
|
|
gallons of groundwater a day; |
|
|
(2) the drilling of a water well used solely to supply |
|
|
water for a rig that is actively engaged in drilling or exploration |
|
|
operations for an oil or gas well permitted by the Railroad |
|
|
Commission of Texas provided that the person holding the permit is |
|
|
responsible for drilling and operating the water well and the well |
|
|
is located on the same lease or field associated with the drilling |
|
|
rig; or |
|
|
(3) the drilling of a water well authorized under a |
|
|
permit issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas under Chapter |
|
|
134, Natural Resources Code, or for production from such a well to |
|
|
the extent the withdrawals are required for mining activities |
|
|
regardless of any subsequent use of the water. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |