88R834 CXP-D
By: Eckhardt S.B. No. 257
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the reduction of methane gas flaring on land dedicated
to the permanent university fund.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 66, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 66.455 to read as follows:
Sec. 66.455. METHANE FLARING REDUCTION PLANS. (a) The
board of regents of The University of Texas System shall adopt a
formal policy goal to eliminate routine methane flaring on
university lands by 2027.
(b) Under each lease issued, modified, or renewed under this
subchapter relating to oil or gas, the lessee shall submit to the
board of regents of The University of Texas System a plan to end
routine methane flaring in accordance with the policy goal adopted
under Subsection (a). The plan must:
(1) include provisions that prohibit routine methane
flaring;
(2) for all new and existing sources, require
operators to adhere to the United States Environmental Protection
Agency's new source performance standards for methane emissions;
and
(3) require the lessee to implement quarterly
inspections and maintenance for the detection of malfunctioning and
unlit flares using leak detection equipment, such as optical gas
imaging cameras, and for the repair of those flares.
(c) The board of regents of The University of Texas System
shall review and approve or reject each plan submitted under
Subsection (b) according to procedures adopted by the board. The
University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology shall assist the
board and lessees in matters relating to the plans.
(d) In adopting procedures to implement this section, the
board of regents of The University of Texas System may apply to new
facilities and existing facilities that have been modified after
initial construction more stringent standards than the standards
the board applies to other facilities.
SECTION 2. Not later than June 1, 2024, the board of regents
of The University of Texas System shall adopt procedures
implementing Section 66.455, Education Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.