88R7277 ANG-F

By: Guillen H.B. No. 4120

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the inspection of the location of a proposed Class I injection well.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 27.016, Water Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 27.016. INSPECTION OF WELL LOCATION. (a) On receiving an application for a permit, the executive director shall:

(1) have an inspection made of the location of the proposed disposal well to determine the local conditions and the probable effect of the well; and

(2) [shall] determine the requirements for the setting of casing, as provided in Sections 27.051, 27.055, and 27.056 [of this code].

(b) For a proposed Class I injection well, the executive director may satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a) by accepting an inspection report prepared by an engineer or geoscientist licensed in this state. The report must:

(1) confirm that the engineer or geoscientist inspected the location of the proposed injection well to determine the local conditions and the probable effect of the well; and

(2) state the engineer's or geoscientist's determination regarding the requirements for the setting of casing as required by Subsection (a)(2).

(c) An engineer or geoscientist may conduct an inspection under Subsection (b)(1):

(1) in person at the location of the proposed injection well; or

(2) virtually through:

(A) satellite or other aerial imagery;

(B) mapping software; or

(C) other appropriate information sources.

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only to a permit application filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on or after the effective date of this Act. A permit application filed before the effective date of this Act is subject to the law in effect on the date the application is filed, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.