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.