bill ordering Railroad Commission rules for drilling pits

The text as introduced · 420 words

89R5067 ANG-F

By: Menéndez
S.B. No. 3017

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the regulation by the Railroad Commission of Texas of

certain pits used for the storage and disposal of oil and gas waste.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 91, Natural Resources

Code, is amended by adding Section 91.119 to read as follows:

Sec. 91.119. REGULATIONS REGARDING RESERVE AND MUD

CIRCULATION PITS. (a) In this section:

(1) "Mud circulation pit" means a pit used in

conjunction with a drilling rig for the storage of drilling fluid

being used in drilling operations.

(2) "Reserve pit" means a pit used in conjunction with

a drilling rig for collecting:

(A) spent drilling fluids;

(B) cuttings, sand, and silt; or

(C) wash water used for cleaning drill pipe and

other equipment at the well site.

(b) The commission shall adopt rules regarding the use of

reserve pits and mud circulation pits. The rules must establish:

(1) minimum siting standards for reserve pits and mud

circulation pits;

(2) uniform technical, construction, sampling, and

closure standards for reserve pits and mud circulation pits;

(3) minimum and maximum bonding and financial security

requirements for a person using a reserve pit for the permanent

burial of oil and gas waste;

(4) groundwater monitoring standards for reserve pits

and mud circulation pits; and

(5) standards for providing notice to and receiving

permission from a landowner for the permanent burial of the oil and

gas waste, including providing notice to the landowner of the type

and volume of oil and gas waste to be buried in the reserve pit or

mud circulation pit.

(c) The standards established under Subsections (b)(1)-(4)

must be consistent with analogous standards established by the

commission for produced water recycling pits.

(d) Not later than 30 days after the closure of a reserve pit

or mud circulation pit used for the permanent burial of oil and gas

waste, the operator must send a written notice of the burial of the

oil and gas waste to the county clerk of the county in which the pit

is located. The written notice must include a legal description of

the location of the pit and the type and volume of oil and gas waste

in the pit. After receiving notice of the oil and gas waste burial,

the county clerk shall record the notice at no charge in the

official public records of the county.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.