LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION May 6, 2015 TO: Honorable Troy Fraser, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB2230 by Larson (Relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to authorize an injection well used for oil and gas waste disposal to be used for the disposal of nonhazardous brine produced by a desalination operation or nonhazardous drinking water treatment residuals.), As Engrossed No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would allow dual authorization of Class II and Class V injection wells for the disposal of non-hazardous brine from a desalination operation or nonhazardous drinking water treatment residuals (DWTR) into a Class II injection well permitted by the Railroad Commission (RRC). The bill would allow the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to provide, by individual permit, general permit, or authorization-by-rule, a Class V injection well authorization for the disposal of such brine and DWTR in a Class II well permitted by the RRCTCEQ reports that the agency's regional offices currently conduct investigations to verify the existence of Class V wells at non-Class II sites. The bill provides that TCEQ would have authorization over Class V injection at Class II wells that are currently solely under RRC's jurisdiction. Based on this new jurisdiction, TCEQ would need the capability to conduct investigations at Class II well sites. It is anticipated that current TCEQ investigative staffing would be adequate to handle these additional investigations if the number of new Class V authorizations at Class II wells are low. Thus, it is expected that the TCEQ could use existing resources to implement the provisions of the bill. RRC expects no significant fiscal implications as a result of the bill's passage. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies:455 Railroad Commission, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality LBB Staff: UP, SZ, TL
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
May 6, 2015
TO: Honorable Troy Fraser, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:HB2230 by Larson (Relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to authorize an injection well used for oil and gas waste disposal to be used for the disposal of nonhazardous brine produced by a desalination operation or nonhazardous drinking water treatment residuals.), As Engrossed
TO: Honorable Troy Fraser, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development
FROM: Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB2230 by Larson (Relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to authorize an injection well used for oil and gas waste disposal to be used for the disposal of nonhazardous brine produced by a desalination operation or nonhazardous drinking water treatment residuals.), As Engrossed
Honorable Troy Fraser, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development
Honorable Troy Fraser, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Economic Development
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
HB2230 by Larson (Relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to authorize an injection well used for oil and gas waste disposal to be used for the disposal of nonhazardous brine produced by a desalination operation or nonhazardous drinking water treatment residuals.), As Engrossed
HB2230 by Larson (Relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to authorize an injection well used for oil and gas waste disposal to be used for the disposal of nonhazardous brine produced by a desalination operation or nonhazardous drinking water treatment residuals.), As Engrossed
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would allow dual authorization of Class II and Class V injection wells for the disposal of non-hazardous brine from a desalination operation or nonhazardous drinking water treatment residuals (DWTR) into a Class II injection well permitted by the Railroad Commission (RRC). The bill would allow the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to provide, by individual permit, general permit, or authorization-by-rule, a Class V injection well authorization for the disposal of such brine and DWTR in a Class II well permitted by the RRCTCEQ reports that the agency's regional offices currently conduct investigations to verify the existence of Class V wells at non-Class II sites. The bill provides that TCEQ would have authorization over Class V injection at Class II wells that are currently solely under RRC's jurisdiction. Based on this new jurisdiction, TCEQ would need the capability to conduct investigations at Class II well sites. It is anticipated that current TCEQ investigative staffing would be adequate to handle these additional investigations if the number of new Class V authorizations at Class II wells are low. Thus, it is expected that the TCEQ could use existing resources to implement the provisions of the bill. RRC expects no significant fiscal implications as a result of the bill's passage.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies: 455 Railroad Commission, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality
455 Railroad Commission, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality
LBB Staff: UP, SZ, TL
UP, SZ, TL