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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of the location of oil and gas wells by a |
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county in certain areas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 250, Local Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 250.007 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 250.007. PERMIT REQUIRED FOR OIL AND GAS WELLS IN |
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CERTAIN AREAS. (a) This section applies only to a well for oil or |
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gas located in a county: |
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(1) with a population of at least 115,000 but not more |
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than 150,000; and |
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(2) in which at least one census-designated place, |
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which is not an incorporated municipality, with a population of at |
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least 200 is located. |
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(b) The commissioners court of a county by order may |
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regulate by permit the drilling of a well for oil or gas, at a |
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location in the census-designated place within the county, that is |
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less than 400 feet from a residence. |
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(c) A person may not drill a well for oil or gas at a |
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location described by Subsection (b) unless the person obtains: |
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(1) any permit required by the Railroad Commission of |
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Texas; and |
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(2) a permit from the county in which the well is |
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located if the well is located in the census-designated place in an |
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unincorporated area of the county. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a well for which the Railroad Commission of Texas issues a |
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drilling permit on or after the effective date of this Act. A well |
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for which the Railroad Commission of Texas issues a drilling permit |
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before the effective date of this Act is subject to the law in |
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effect on the date the permit is issued, and that law is continued |
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in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |