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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the location for conducting certain hearings of the |
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Railroad Commission of Texas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 81, Natural Resources |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 81.065 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.065. LOCATION FOR CONDUCTING CERTAIN HEARINGS. (a) |
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In this section, "urban hydrocarbon-producing area" means an area |
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consisting of the counties located wholly or partly above a |
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hydrocarbon-producing geological formation that underlies all or |
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part of two counties: |
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(1) that are adjacent to one another; and |
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(2) each of which has a population of more than 1.4 |
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million. |
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(b) This section applies only to a hearing held by the |
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commission regarding: |
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(1) an application or other request to issue, renew, |
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reopen, transfer, amend, extend, withdraw, suspend, revoke, |
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terminate, or modify a permit, license, certificate, registration, |
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or other authorization or approval under this title pertaining to |
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an activity undertaken or to be undertaken in an urban |
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hydrocarbon-producing area; or |
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(2) a violation of a provision of this title or a rule, |
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order, permit, license, certificate, registration, or other |
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authorization or approval issued under this title occurring in an |
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urban hydrocarbon-producing area. |
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(c) The commission shall hold the hearing in a county |
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located in the urban hydrocarbon-producing area. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an application or other request filed with the Railroad |
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Commission of Texas or a violation occurring on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. An application or other request filed |
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with the commission or a violation occurring before the effective |
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date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed immediately |
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before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |