Darby Bill Sets $500 To $3,000 Fees For Waste Permits

The text as introduced · 546 words

89R3836 ANG-F

By: Darby
H.B. No. 3158

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to imposition of application fees for certain permits and

permit amendments for the disposal of oil and gas waste.

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

SECTION 1. Section 91.1013, Natural Resources Code, is

amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection

(a-1) to read as follows:

(a) [ With each application for a fluid injection well

permit, the applicant shall submit to the commission a

nonrefundable fee of $200. ] In this section :

(1) "Fluid [ , "fluid ] injection well" means any well

used to inject fluid or gas into the ground in connection with the

exploration or production of oil or gas other than an oil and gas

waste disposal well regulated by the commission pursuant to Chapter

27, Water Code.

(2) "Land application permit" means a permit

authorizing the covering of a controlled area with gas plant

effluent or low-chloride produced water through the use of a

sprinkler or other irrigation system.

(3) "Landfarm permit" means a permit authorizing the

disposal of low chloride, water-based drilling fluid or oil and gas

waste by mixing or tilling the fluid or waste into the natural soil

so that the waste will not migrate from the area covered by the

landfarm permit.

(4) "Landtreatment permit" means a permit authorizing

the disposal of oil-based drilling fluid, oil-impacted soil, or oil

and gas waste by mixing or tilling the fluid, soil, or waste into

the natural soil to degrade the fluid, impacted soil, or waste so

that the fluid, impacted soil, or waste will not migrate from the

area covered by the landtreatment permit.

(a-1) With each application for a fluid injection well

permit, the applicant shall submit to the commission a

nonrefundable fee of $200.

(b) An applicant [ With each application ] for a permit to

store, treat, or dispose of certain oil and gas waste [ discharge to

surface water under this chapter and commission rules, other than a

permit for a discharge that meets National Pollutant Discharge

Elimination System requirements for agricultural or wildlife use,

the applicant ] shall submit to the commission a nonrefundable fee

for that application as follows:

(1) $500 for an application for a landfarm,

landtreatment, or land application permit or permit amendment;

(2) $2,000 for an application for a commercial oil and

gas waste separation facility permit;

(3) $1,000 for an application for an amendment to a

commercial waste separation facility permit;

(4) $3,000 for an application for a commercial surface

oil and gas waste facility permit; and

(5) $1,000 for an application for an amendment to a

commercial surface waste facility permit [ of $300 ].

SECTION 2. Section 91.1013, Natural Resources Code, as

amended by this Act, applies only to an application for the issuance

or amendment of a permit that is filed with the Railroad Commission

of Texas on or after the effective date of this Act. An application

for a permit filed before the effective date of this Act is governed

by the law in effect on the date of the filing, and the former law is

continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.