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