SB2122 - Relating to imposition of application fees for certain permits and permit amendments for the disposal of oil and gas waste.

      S.B. No. 2122         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)     "Commercial oil and gas waste separation facility"   means a facility that manages but does not dispose of oil and gas   waste on site and that is managed by an owner or operator whose   primary business is to provide oil field fluid or oil and gas waste   management services for compensation.                 (2)     "Commercial surface oil and gas waste disposal   facility" means a facility that disposes of oil and gas waste on   site and that is managed by an owner or operator whose primary   business is to provide oil field fluid or oil and gas waste disposal   services for compensation.                 (3)  "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.                 (4)     "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.                 (5)     "Landfarm permit" means a permit authorizing the   disposal of low-chloride, water-based oil and gas waste, including   drilling fluid, 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.                 (6)     "Landtreatment permit" means a permit authorizing   the disposal of oil-based oil and gas waste, including oil-based   drilling fluid, oil-impacted soil, or other 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 oil and gas waste separation facility permit;                 (4)     $3,000 for an application for a commercial surface   oil and gas waste disposal facility permit; and                 (5)     $1,000 for an application for an amendment to a   commercial surface oil and gas waste disposal 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.             ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2122 passed the Senate on   April 16, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8; and that   the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 14, 2025, by the   following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8.       ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate                I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2122 passed the House, with   amendment, on May 10, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 101,   Nays 29, two present not voting.       ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House            Approved:     ______________________________                Date       ______________________________              Governor