HBA-JLV C.S.H.B. 2409 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 2409
By: Counts
Natural Resources
4/16/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Edwards Aquifer is the sole source of drinking water for the City of
San Antonio and many surrounding communities in South Texas.  This growing
region of the state already requires more water sources to serve the people
of South Texas.  Recently, concerns have been raised about protecting the
quality of this drinking water as projects become feasible that may involve
direct injection into the aquifer through the use of injection wells.
House Bill 2409 authorizes the use of direct injection wells over the
Edwards Aquifer only if the water being injected is withdrawn from the
Edwards Aquifer or is recharged through a natural recharge feature. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2409 authorizes the Edwards Aquifer Authority to contract for
injection or artificial recharge only if the provision is made for the
protection and maintenance of the quality of groundwater in the receiving
part of the aquifer and the water used for artificial recharge is
groundwater withdrawn from the aquifer or the water is recharged through a
natural recharge feature.  The bill prohibits the Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission from issuing a permit for an injection well that
passes through or terminates in the Edwards Aquifer unless the fluid
injected is groundwater withdrawn from the Edwards Aquifer. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2409 modifies the original to authorize the use of direct
injection wells over the Edwards Aquifer only if the water being injected
is withdrawn from the Edwards Aquifer or is recharged through a natural
recharge feature. The substitute no longer requires the water used for
injection of artificial recharge to be surface water.  The substitute
prohibits the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission from issuing a
permit for an injection well that passes through or terminates in the
Edwards Aquifer unless the fluid injected is groundwater withdrawn from the
Edwards Aquifer.  The substitute deletes provisions prohibiting water other
than surface water to be used for injection into or artificial recharge of
the Edwards Aquifer.