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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to methane gas reduction by The University of Texas |
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System. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 66, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 66.455 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 66.455. METHANE REDUCTION PLANS. Under each lease |
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relating to oil or gas issued under this subchapter, the lessee |
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shall implement a methane reduction plan reviewed and approved by |
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the board of regents of The University of Texas System under |
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procedures adopted by the board. The University of Texas Bureau of |
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Economic Geology shall assist the board and the lessee in matters |
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relating to the plan. |
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SECTION 2. (a) In this section, "bureau" means The |
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University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology. |
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(b) The bureau shall: |
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(1) conduct a study on best practices in the reduction |
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of methane emissions from oil and gas operations; and |
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(2) develop recommendations for legislation that |
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would result in the implementation of best practices in the |
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reduction of methane emissions from oil and gas operations. |
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(c) The study must investigate: |
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(1) the technical and economic potential to minimize |
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methane emissions from oil and gas operations on land held by The |
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University of Texas System; |
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(2) standards in place in other states and across the |
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industry to minimize methane emissions from oil and gas operations; |
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(3) the savings achievable through the adoption of |
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standards identified in Subdivision (2); and |
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(4) policies designed to reduce methane gas emissions |
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on land held by The University of Texas System. |
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(d) Not later than December 1, 2020, the bureau shall submit |
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to each standing committee of the legislature having primary |
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jurisdiction over oil and gas development: |
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(1) a report of the findings of the study conducted |
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under this section; and |
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(2) recommendations for legislation that would result |
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in the implementation of best practices in the reduction of methane |
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emissions from oil and gas operations. |
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(e) This section expires January 1, 2021. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |