Sec. 131.354. COMMISSION JURISDICTION. (a) The commission has jurisdiction over uranium exploration holes and cased exploration wells completed under an exploration permit issued under this subchapter until:

(1) exploration holes and cased exploration wells are properly plugged and abandoned; or

(2) cased exploration wells are:

(A) registered with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; or

(B) included in an area permit issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality under Chapter 27, Water Code.

(b) A well described by Section 131.353(c) is subject to a groundwater conservation district's rules regarding registration of wells if:

(1) the well is located in the groundwater conservation district and the well is used for monitoring purposes; and

(2) the cumulative amount of water produced from the wells located inside the area subject to the exploration permit and completed under the exploration permit issued under this subchapter exceeds 40 acre feet in one year.

(c) A well described by Section 131.353(c) is subject to a groundwater conservation district's rules for registration, production, and reporting if:

(1) the well is located in the groundwater conservation district and the well is used for rig supply purposes; and

(2) the cumulative amount of water produced from the wells located inside the area subject to the exploration permit and completed under the exploration permit issued under this subchapter exceeds 40 acre feet in one year.

(d) Each month, the holder of an exploration permit governing a well described by Section 131.353(c) and located in a groundwater conservation district shall report to the district the total amount of water produced from each well described by Section 131.353(c) and located inside the area subject to the exploration permit.

(e) Each groundwater conservation district shall use the number of acres described in the exploration permit in determining any district production requirements.

Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1117 (H.B. 3837), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2007.