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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to aquifer storage and recovery projects that transect a |
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portion of the Edwards Aquifer. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 27.051(i), Water Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(i) For purposes of this subsection, "Edwards Aquifer" has |
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the meaning assigned by Section 26.046(a). Except as otherwise |
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provided by this subsection, the commission may not authorize by |
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rule or permit an injection well that transects or terminates in the |
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Edwards Aquifer. The commission by rule or permit may authorize: |
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(1) injection of groundwater withdrawn from the |
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Edwards Aquifer; |
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(2) injections of storm water, flood water, or |
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groundwater through improved sinkholes or caves located in karst |
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topographic areas; [or] |
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(3) injections of water made in accordance with |
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Section 1.44(e)(3), Chapter 626, Acts of the 73rd Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 1993; or |
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(4) an aquifer storage and recovery project that |
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includes an ASR injection well, as defined under Section 27.151, |
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that transects the Edwards Aquifer in the area of Williamson County |
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east of Interstate Highway 35 for the injection of water into a |
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geologic formation that underlies the Edwards Aquifer. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than March 1, 2024, the Texas |
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Commission on Environmental Quality shall adopt rules to implement |
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Section 27.051(i), Water Code, as amended by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |