House Committee on Natural Resources - 83rd R.S. (2013)

Committee: House Natural Resources
Title: Interim Report
Subjects: Aquifers | Environmental flows | Groundwater | Oil spills | Texas State Water Plan | Water finance | Water supplies |
Library Call Number: L1836.83 N218h
Session: 83rd R.S. (2013)
Online version: View report [112 pages]
Charges: This report should address the charges below.
1. Monitor the implementation of HB 4, 83rd R.S. and SJR 1, 83rd R.S. and the progress of the Texas Water Development Board and other entities in implementing this legislation to provide a stable, long-term funding source for the State Water Plan.
2. Evaluate the availability, management, and development of groundwater in the state. Consider the economic, environmental, and social impacts of groundwater usage and production in the agricultural, municipal, and energy sectors. In particular, examine methods to facilitate further development of brackish groundwater resources and to improve the consistency and certainty of permitting by groundwater districts without undercutting reasonable regional and local regulation of groundwater.
3. Explore opportunities to encourage voluntary protection and stewardship of privately owned lands in support of the state’s water supply and to protect environmental flow needs in Texas rivers. Examine methods in which state agencies, water rights holders, and non-governmental organizations can work together through programs like the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program and the Texas Water Trust.
4. Examine strategies to enhance the use of aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) projects, including a review of existing ASR facilities in Texas and elsewhere.
5. Monitor the use of funds provided or made available to Texas in relation to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and make recommendations on the appropriate use of these funds in the future. (Joint charge with the House Committee on Appropriations)
6. Conduct legislative oversight and monitoring of the agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction and the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 83rd Legislature. In conducting this oversight, the committee should: a. consider any reforms to state agencies to make them more responsive to Texas taxpayers and citizens; b. identify issues regarding the agency or its governance that may be appropriate to investigate, improve, remedy, or eliminate; c. determine whether an agency is operating in a transparent and efficient manner; and d. identify opportunities to streamline programs and services while maintaining the mission of the agency and its programs.
Supporting documents
Committee: House Natural Resources
Title: Committee meeting handouts and testimony, February 5, 2013, Joint hearing of Senate and House Committees on Natural Resources on drought (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Water Development Board, Texas State Climatologist)
Library Call Number:
Session: 83rd R.S. (2013)
Online version: View document [20 pages  File size: 2,293 kb]
Committee: House Natural Resources
Title: Committee meeting handouts and testimony, February 12, 2013 (Drought, federal water issues, water programs; Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Water Development Board, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department)
Library Call Number:
Session: 83rd R.S. (2013)
Online version: View document [25 pages  File size: 5,601 kb]
Committee: House Natural Resources
Title: Rules: Committee rule related to the electronic distribution of materials, adopted February 12, 2013
Library Catalog Title: Minutes
Library Call Number: L1801.9 N218H 83 2013: FEB 12
Session: 83rd R.S. (2013)
Online version: View document [1 pages  File size: 37 kb]
Committee: House Natural Resources
Title: Committee meeting handouts and testimony, February 13, 2013, Joint hearing of House Committees on Energy Resources and Natural Resources (Update on innovations in water use in hydraulic fracturing)
Library Call Number:
Session: 83rd R.S. (2013)
Online version: View document [46 pages  File size: 5,513 kb]
Committee: House Natural Resources
Title: Committee meeting handouts and testimony, February 19, 2013 (Testimony on HB 4, Relating to the creation and funding of the state water implementation fund for Texas to assist the Texas Water Development Board in the funding of certain water-related projects)
Library Call Number:
Session: 83rd R.S. (2013)
Online version: View document [165 pages  File size: 40,274 kb]
Committee: House Natural Resources
Title: Committee meeting handouts and testimony, Joint hearing of House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Articles VI, VII, and VIII, and Natural Resources, May 21, 2014, 10:00 A.M. (Funds available to Texas in relation to 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill)
Library Call Number:
Session: 83rd R.S. (2013)
Online version: View document [45 pages  File size: 936 kb]

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