88R5716 KBB-F
 
  By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 1459
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment by the Railroad Commission of Texas
  of a policy to eliminate the routine flaring of natural gas from
  wells or other facilities regulated by the commission.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 86, Natural Resources
  Code, is amended by adding Section 86.186 to read as follows:
         Sec. 86.186.  ELIMINATION OF ROUTINE FLARING. (a) The
  commission by rule shall establish a policy to eliminate before
  December 31, 2029, the routine flaring of gas from wells or other
  facilities regulated by the commission.
         (b)  The policy may include:
               (1)  regulatory, incentive-based, or voluntary
  approaches for achieving the goals of the policy; and
               (2)  interim goals for individual wells or other
  facilities or for operators of wells or other facilities.
         (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), the policy must
  allow flaring for safety or emergency purposes or purposes
  authorized under Section 86.185.
         (d)  The policy may not allow flaring to be conducted for an
  extended period for a purpose that is not related to safety or an
  emergency.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.