Relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to issue permits for the land application of water produced from certain mining and oil and gas extraction operations.

89(R) HB 2584 - House Committee Report version - Bill Text

89R21774 CMO-D

By: Landgraf

H.B. No. 2584

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2584:

By: Darby

C.S.H.B. No. 2584

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental

Quality to issue permits for the land application of water produced

from certain mining and oil and gas extraction operations.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 26.131, Water Code, as effective until

delegation of authority under the Resource Conservation and

Recovery Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq.) to the

Railroad Commission of Texas, is amended by amending Subsection (b)

and adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows:

(b) Except as provided by
Subsections
[
Subsection
] (d)
and

(e)
, the Railroad Commission of Texas may issue permits for the

discharge of waste resulting from the activities described by

Subsection (a), and the discharge of waste into water in this state

resulting from those activities must meet the water quality

standards established by the commission.

(e)

The commission may issue permits for the land

application of produced water resulting from activities described

by Subsection (a) that has been treated for beneficial use.

The

commission shall adopt standards for the land application of water

under this section, including standards that prevent the pollution

of surface and subsurface water.

(f)

The commission shall consult with the Railroad

Commission of Texas when adopting the standards for a permit issued

under Subsection (e). This subsection expires September 1, 2027.

SECTION 2. Section 26.131, Water Code, as effective on

delegation of authority under the Resource Conservation and

Recovery Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq.) to the

Railroad Commission of Texas, is amended by amending Subsection (b)

and adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:

(b) Except as provided by
Subsections
[
Subsection
] (c)
and

(d)
, the Railroad Commission of Texas may issue permits for the

discharge of waste resulting from the activities described by

Subsection (a), and the discharge of waste into water in this state

resulting from those activities must meet the water quality

standards established by the commission.

(d)

The commission may issue permits for the land

application of produced water resulting from activities described

by Subsection (a) that has been treated for beneficial use.

The

commission shall adopt standards for the land application of water

under this section, including standards that prevent the pollution

of surface and subsurface water.

(e)

The commission shall consult with the Railroad

Commission of Texas when adopting the standards for a permit issued

under Subsection (d). This subsection expires September 1, 2027.

SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only

to a permit the application for which is filed on or after the

effective date of this Act. A permit the application for which is

filed before the effective date of this Act is subject to the law in

effect on the date the application is filed, and that law is

continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.