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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to permit authority of the Lost Pines Groundwater |
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Conservation District. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 8849, Special District Local Laws Code, |
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is amended by adding Sec. 8849.107 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 8849.107. Permits Issued for Historic Use. (a) In |
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promulgating any rules limiting groundwater production, the |
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district shall preserve historic use to the maximum extent |
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practicable consistent with the district's management plan. |
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(b) The historic use period shall begin January 1, 2001 and |
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end December 31, 2012, and the district shall issue historic use |
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permits for permitted use during that historic use period. |
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(c) Historic use permits shall be issued in an amount equal |
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to the maximum amount of groundwater actually withdrawn and placed |
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to a beneficial use without waste during any one calendar year |
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during the historic use period. |
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(d) The district may impose more restrictive permit |
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conditions on new permit applications and permit amendment |
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applications to increase use by historic users if the limitations: |
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(1) apply to all subsequent new permit applications |
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and permit amendment applications to increase use by historic |
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users, regardless of type or location of use; |
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(2) bear a reasonable relationship to the approved |
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district management plan; and |
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(3) are reasonably necessary to protect existing use. |
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(e) Historic use permits may form the basis of an operating |
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permit but do not relieve the permittee from district regulations |
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regarding beneficial use, conservation, waste or regulatory |
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pumping fees, or any other district rules. |
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SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect on September 1, 2015. |