88R14595 JAM-D
By: Rogers H.B. No. 4360
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the inventory and inspection of certain converted
wells.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 81, Natural Resources
Code, is amended by adding Section 81.0561 to read as follows:
Sec. 81.0561. INVENTORY AND INSPECTION OF CERTAIN WELLS.
(a) The commission shall maintain and make publicly available an
inventory of wells originally drilled or operated as an oil or gas
well under a permit issued by the commission and subsequently
conveyed to a landowner for use as a water well.
(b) The commission shall:
(1) require a form to be filed with the commission
regarding the conveyance of a well described by Subsection (a) to
provide notice that the well that is the subject of the conveyance:
(A) will be included in the publicly available
inventory required by Subsection (a); and
(B) may be subject to inspection under Subsection
(c); and
(2) provide notice to the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality of each form described by Subdivision (1)
that is filed.
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), the Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality shall inspect a well that is
the subject of a form described by Subsection (b) between the 20th
and 25th anniversary of the date the form is filed with commission.
(d) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is not
required to perform an inspection under Subsection (c) if the
surface owner of the well files with the commission a form
certifying that the well is in good working order or has been
properly plugged.
SECTION 2. Section 81.0561, Natural Resources Code, as
added by this Act, applies only to a well for which a form giving
notice of the conveyance of a well described by Subsection (a) of
that section is filed with the Railroad Commission of Texas on or
after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.