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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to application and notification requirements for a permit |
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to drill an oil or gas well in or near an easement held by the Texas |
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Department of Transportation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 91, Natural Resources |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 91.021 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 91.021. NOTICE OF PERMIT TO DRILL WELL IN |
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TRANSPORTATION EASEMENT. (a) In this section, "department" means |
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the Texas Department of Transportation. |
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(b) The commission shall adopt rules to require that an |
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application for a permit to drill an oil or gas well include an |
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affirmation as to whether or not the well is located within an |
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easement held by the department or within 50 yards of an easement |
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held by the department. |
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(c) Not later than the 14th day after the date the |
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commission receives an application for a permit to drill an oil or |
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gas well that contains an affirmation that the well is located |
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within an easement held by the department or within 50 yards of an |
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easement held by the department, the commission shall transmit the |
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application to the department. |
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(d) This section does not grant to the department any |
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authority regarding the approval of an application for a permit to |
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drill an oil or gas well. |
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SECTION 2. Section 91.021, Natural Resources Code, as added |
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by this Act, applies only to a permit application filed with the |
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Railroad Commission of Texas on or after the effective date of this |
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Act. A permit application filed with the commission before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the |
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application was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for |
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that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |