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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to reporting requirements regarding groundwater |
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withdrawals for water wells. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 36, Water Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 36.1171 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 36.1171. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR GROUNDWATER |
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WITHDRAWALS. (a) The Texas Water Development Board shall work with |
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groundwater conservation districts to adopt rules that require all |
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owners or operators of a well, including a well exempt from other |
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permitting under Section 36.117, to report groundwater withdrawals |
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under using reasonable and appropriate reporting methods and |
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frequency. Groundwater withdrawals shall be reported annually to |
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the groundwater conservation district where the well is located, |
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and if no groundwater conservation district is established, users |
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shall report withdrawals directly to the Texas Water Development |
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Board. |
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(b) If a district by rule requires reporting of groundwater |
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withdrawals under Section 36.111, the district rules must be |
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consistent with the Texas Water Development Board rules adopted |
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under Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 2. The first report due under Section 36.1171, |
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Water Code, as added by this Act, is due on March 31, 2015, for the |
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period covering calendar year 2014. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |