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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the development, protection, and production of brackish |
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aquifers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 11, Water Code is amended |
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by adding Section 11.054 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 11.054. BRACKISH AQUIFER. (a) The administration of |
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rules concerning brackish aquifers shall be efficient, equitable, |
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and provide sufficient uniformity to produce the highest and best |
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use of resources from brackish aquifers. |
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(b) The highest and best use of brackish aquifers includes: |
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(1) The production of freshwater through |
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desalination; |
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(2) |
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The use of produced water for use in hydraulic |
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fracturing. |
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(c) The development and production of natural resources in |
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brackish aquifers in subsection (b) shall be given precedence over |
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all other permitted uses of the brackish aquifer. |
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(d) It shall be the goal of the state of Texas to use |
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resources from brackish aquifers to: |
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(1) reduce freshwater consumption from hydraulic |
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fracturing, including promoting recycling of produced water; |
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(2) increase access to freshwater for agricultural, |
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municipal, and industrial consumption. |
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SECTION 2. The effective date of this Act is September 1, 2013 |