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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a requirement that the Railroad Commission of Texas |
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require the installation and use of subsurface safety valves on oil |
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and gas wells drilled in certain areas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 91, Natural Resources |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 91.1016 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 91.1016. SUBSURFACE SAFETY VALVES IN CERTAIN AREAS. |
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(a) To prevent spills or releases of oil, gas, and related |
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hydrocarbons, the commission by rule shall require the installation |
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and use of subsurface safety valves in oil and gas wells drilled in: |
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(1) bays and estuaries; |
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(2) flood zones, particularly areas adjacent to rivers |
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or other bodies of water; and |
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(3) areas subject to hurricanes or other catastrophic |
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events. |
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(b) To determine whether a subsurface safety valve |
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installed in an oil or gas well is working properly, the commission |
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may inspect the valve or require the operator of the well to submit |
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to the commission information about the valve. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an oil or gas well for which the application for the drilling |
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permit is submitted to the Railroad Commission of Texas on or after |
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the effective date of the rules adopted under Section 91.1016, |
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Natural Resources Code, as added by this Act. A well for which the |
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application for the drilling permit is submitted before the date |
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the rules take effect is governed by the law in effect when the |
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application is submitted, and that law is continued in effect for |
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that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |