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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to imposition of application fees for certain permits and |
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permit amendments for the disposal of oil and gas waste. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 91.1013, Natural Resources Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection |
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(a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a) [With each application for a fluid injection well |
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permit, the applicant shall submit to the commission a |
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nonrefundable fee of $200.] In this section: |
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(1) "Fluid[, "fluid] injection well" means any well |
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used to inject fluid or gas into the ground in connection with the |
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exploration or production of oil or gas other than an oil and gas |
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waste disposal well regulated by the commission pursuant to Chapter |
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27, Water Code. |
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(2) "Land application permit" means a permit |
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authorizing the covering of a controlled area with gas plant |
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effluent or low-chloride produced water through the use of a |
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sprinkler or other irrigation system. |
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(3) "Landfarm permit" means a permit authorizing the |
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disposal of low chloride, water-based drilling fluid or oil and gas |
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waste by mixing or tilling the fluid or waste into the natural soil |
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so that the waste will not migrate from the area covered by the |
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landfarm permit. |
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(4) "Landtreatment permit" means a permit authorizing |
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the disposal of oil-based drilling fluid, oil-impacted soil, or oil |
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and gas waste by mixing or tilling the fluid, soil, or waste into |
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the natural soil to degrade the fluid, impacted soil, or waste so |
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that the fluid, impacted soil, or waste will not migrate from the |
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area covered by the landtreatment permit. |
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(a-1) With each application for a fluid injection well |
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permit, the applicant shall submit to the commission a |
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nonrefundable fee of $200. |
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(b) An applicant [With each application] for a permit to |
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store, treat, or dispose of certain oil and gas waste [discharge to |
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surface water under this chapter and commission rules, other than a |
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permit for a discharge that meets National Pollutant Discharge |
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Elimination System requirements for agricultural or wildlife use, |
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the applicant] shall submit to the commission a nonrefundable fee |
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for that application as follows: |
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(1) $500 for an application for a landfarm, |
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landtreatment, or land application permit or permit amendment; |
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(2) $2,000 for an application for a commercial oil and |
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gas waste separation facility permit; |
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(3) $1,000 for an application for an amendment to a |
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commercial waste separation facility permit; |
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(4) $3,000 for an application for a commercial surface |
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oil and gas waste facility permit; and |
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(5) $1,000 for an application for an amendment to a |
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commercial surface waste facility permit [of $300]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 91.1013, Natural Resources Code, as |
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amended by this Act, applies only to an application for the issuance |
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or amendment of a permit that is filed with the Railroad Commission |
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of Texas on or after the effective date of this Act. An application |
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for a permit filed before the effective date of this Act is governed |
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by the law in effect on the date of the filing, and the former law is |
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continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |