The following bills that may be of interest to Texas geologists have been filed. New information is listed in bold. Seven bills have been sent to the Governor this week, and a total of three bills have been signed (listed with an *):
HB 30, by Larson and Vilalba, Relating to the development of brackish groundwater. 6/1/2015 Sent to the Governor. For more information go to: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=84R&Bill=HB30
Senate Bill (SB) 1532 was passed during the 83rd Texas Legislature in 2013. The intent of the legislation was to provide a statutory and regulatory basis to promote research that could make desalination of brackish groundwater and aquifer storage and recovery more viable in the Edwards Aquifer. Within the geographic aea circumscribed by the external boundaries of the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District but not within the district’s territory, Texas Water Code (TWC), §27.0516 allows the commission to authorize, by rule or general permit, certain injection wells that transect or terminate in the Edwards Aquifer while providing a statutory and regulatory basis that is protective of the freshwater aquifer and supportive of desalination and aquifer storage and recovery. A summary of the rulemaking by the TCEQ can be found at: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/legal/rules/rule_lib/adoptions/13056037_aex.pdf
A copy of the proposed rule can be found at: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/legal/rules/rule_lib/adoptions/13053331_ado.pdf
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Sunset Legislation, House Bill (HB) 2694, Article 2, passed by the 82nd Legislature, 2011, and signed by the governor, transferred from the TCEQ to the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) duties relating to the protection of groundwater resources from oil and gas associated activities. Specifically, HB 2694, Article 2, amended the Texas Natural Resources Code to revise §91.011, add §§91.0115, 91.020, and 91.1015, and amended the Texas Water Code, §27.033. On September 1, 2011, the law transferred from the TCEQ to the RRC those duties pertaining to the responsibility of preparing groundwater protection advisory/recommendation letters. Since the transfer, the RRC has been responsible for providing surface casing and/or groundwater protection recommendations for oil and gas activities under the jurisdiction of the RRC.
