Sec. 81.069. REPORTING ON PROGRESS IN MEETING PERFORMANCE GOALS FOR THE OIL AND GAS REGULATION AND CLEANUP FUND. (a) The commission, through the legislative appropriations request process, shall establish specific performance goals for the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund for the next biennium, including goals for each quarter of each state fiscal year of the biennium for the number of:
(1) orphaned wells to be plugged with state-managed funds;
(2) abandoned sites to be investigated, assessed, or cleaned up with state funds; and
(3) surface locations to be remediated.
(b) The commission shall provide quarterly reports to the Legislative Budget Board that include:
(1) the following information with respect to the period since the last report was provided as well as cumulatively:
(A) the amount of money deposited in the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund;
(B) the amount of money spent from the fund for the purposes described by Subsection (a);
(C) the balance of the fund; and
(D) the commission's progress in meeting the quarterly performance goals established under Subsection (a) and, if the number of orphaned wells plugged with state-managed funds, abandoned sites investigated, assessed, or cleaned up with state funds, or surface locations remediated is at least five percent less than the number projected in the applicable goal established under Subsection (a), an explanation of the reason for the variance; and
(2) any additional information or data requested in writing by the Legislative Budget Board.
(c) The commission shall submit to the legislature and make available to the public, annually, a report that reviews the extent to which money provided under Section 81.067 has enabled the commission to better protect the environment through oil-field cleanup activities. The report must include:
(1) the performance goals established under Subsection (a) for that state fiscal year, the commission's progress in meeting those performance goals, and, if the number of orphaned wells plugged with state-managed funds, abandoned sites investigated, assessed, or cleaned up with state funds, or surface locations remediated is at least five percent less than the number projected in the applicable goal established under Subsection (a), an explanation of the reason for the variance;
(2) the number of orphaned wells plugged with state-managed funds, by region;
(3) the number of wells orphaned, by region;
(4) the number of inactive wells not currently in compliance with commission rules, by region;
(5) the status of enforcement proceedings for all wells in violation of commission rules and the period during which the wells have been in violation, by region in which the wells are located;
(6) the number of surface locations remediated, by region;
(7) a detailed accounting of expenditures of money in the fund for oil-field cleanup activities, including expenditures for plugging of orphaned wells, investigation, assessment, and cleaning up of abandoned sites, and remediation of surface locations;
(8) the method by which the commission sets priorities by which it determines the order in which orphaned wells are plugged;
(9) a projection of the amount of money needed for the next biennium for plugging orphaned wells, investigating, assessing, and cleaning up abandoned sites, and remediating surface locations; and
(10) the number of sites successfully remediated under the voluntary cleanup program under Subchapter O, Chapter 91, by region.
Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 4 (S.B. 1), Sec. 19.02, eff. September 28, 2011.
Structure Texas Statutes
Chapter 81 - Railroad Commission of Texas
Subchapter C. Jurisdiction, Powers, and Duties
Section 81.051. Jurisdiction of Commission
Section 81.0521. Fee for Application for Exception to Railroad Commission Rule
Section 81.0522. Natural Gas Policy Act Application Fee
Section 81.0523. Exclusive Jurisdiction and Express Preemption
Section 81.053. Commission Powers
Section 81.0531. Administrative Penalty
Section 81.0532. Penalty Assessment Procedure
Section 81.0533. Payment of Penalty; Refund
Section 81.0534. Recovery of Penalty
Section 81.054. Enforcement by Attorney General
Section 81.055. Pipeline System Financial Responsibility Requirements
Section 81.056. Contamination Report
Section 81.057. Exemption From Certain Purchasing Rules
Section 81.058. Administrative Penalty for Certain Natural Gas-Related Activities
Section 81.059. Appointment of Mediators for Informal Complaints
Section 81.0592. Consumer Interest Information
Section 81.060. Confidentiality Provisions
Section 81.061. Authority to Establish Market-Based Rates
Section 81.062. Public Participation
Section 81.063. Issuance, Suspension, or Revocation of License, Permit, or Certificate
Section 81.064. Powers of Commissioner or Designated Employee in Cases Before Commission
Section 81.065. Alternative Dispute Resolution Policy
Section 81.066. Oil and Gas Division Monitoring and Enforcement Strategic Plan
Section 81.067. Oil and Gas Regulation and Cleanup Fund
Section 81.068. Purposes of Oil and Gas Regulation and Cleanup Fund
Section 81.070. Establishment of Surcharges on Fees
Section 81.071. Pipeline Safety and Regulatory Fees
Section 81.072. Verification by Contractors
Section 81.073. Critical Natural Gas Facilities and Entities
Section 81.073. Critical Natural Gas Facilities and Entities