Title NR, Natural Resources Code

Sec. 141.011. GENERAL DUTY OF THE RAILROAD COMMISSION. Except for duties and responsibilities given to other agencies and officials under this chapter, the commission shall regulate the exploration, development, and production of geothermal energy and associated resources on publ…

Sec. 141.012. RULES. (a) The commission, in consultation with the commissioner and the executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, shall make, publish, and enforce rules providing for the rapid and orderly exploration, development, and production of geoth…

Sec. 141.013. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY. (a) If a person violates provisions of this title which pertain to safety or the prevention or control of pollution or the provisions of a rule, order, license, permit, or certificate which pertain to safety or the prevention or control of po…

Sec. 141.014. PENALTY ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE. (a) A civil penalty may be assessed only after the person charged with a violation described under Section 141.013 of this code has been given an opportunity for a public hearing. (b) If a public hearing has been held, the commission sh…

Sec. 141.015. PAYMENT OF PENALTY; REFUND. (a) On the issuance of an order finding that a violation has occurred, the commission shall inform the permittee and any other person charged within 30 days of the amount of the penalty. (b) Within the 30-day period immediately following …

Sec. 141.016. RECOVERY OF PENALTY. Civil penalties owed under Sections 141.013-141.015 of this code may be recovered in a civil action brought by the attorney general at the request of the commission. Added by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 1419, ch. 286, Sec. 6, eff. Aug. 29, 1983.

Sec. 141.018. ACCESS TO PROPERTY. Members and employees of the commission, on proper identification, may enter public or private property to inspect and investigate conditions relating to the exploration, development, and production of geothermal energy, to monitor compliance wit…

Sec. 141.071. GENERAL AUTHORITY OF COMMISSIONER. To facilitate and encourage the rapid and orderly development of geothermal energy and associated resources, the commissioner may: (1) provide for the orderly exploration of land that belongs to the permanent school fund, excluding…

Sec. 141.072. DEPOSIT OF FEES. The fees collected from issuance of the permits shall be deposited in General Land Office Fund 80 and used as the legislature may direct. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2642, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec. 141.073. LEASE OF PERMANENT SCHOOL FUND LAND. (a) On direction of the commissioner, the board may lease land that belongs to the permanent school fund, excluding wildlife refuges and recreational areas, for the production of geothermal energy and associated resources. (b) Th…

Sec. 141.074. FURNISHING LISTS OF LAND TO OTHER AGENCIES. Before advertising land for lease, the commissioner shall furnish a list of the tracts considered by the board for lease to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the commission, and any other state or federal agen…

Sec. 141.075. NOTICE OF SALE. Land offered for lease to the public by the board shall be advertised in four daily newspapers in the state that have general circulation at least 30 days in advance of the sale date. The notice shall be published in three issues of each newspaper. A…

Sec. 141.076. BIDS. (a) Sales of leases shall be made by sealed bids. (b) The board is entitled to reject any and all bids, but if it accepts a bid, the bid must be determined by the board to be in the best interest of the State of Texas. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2642, ch. 871, a…

Sec. 141.077. LEASES AND PERMITS FOR GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES. (a) The board may grant permits and leases to state and federal institutions, organizations, or groups desiring to do exploratory or experimental research of geothermal energy and associated resource potentials. (b) Thes…

Sec. 141.078. UNIT AGREEMENTS. (a) The board may approve unit agreements of one or more leased tracts on application of the lessees. (b) Before approving any unit agreement, the board must find that the unit agreement if approved by the board will be in the best interest of the s…

Sec. 141.079. REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the commissioner shall report to the legislature on the status of the exploration, development, and production of geothermal energy and associated resources under the land governed by this su…

Sec. 141.101. GENERAL ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY. (a) In addition to other authority specifically granted to the commission under this chapter, the commission may enforce this chapter or any rule, order, or permit of the commission adopted under this chapter in the same manner and sub…

Sec. 141.102. CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A person who knowingly, wilfully, or with criminal negligence violates Subchapter B of this chapter or a rule, order, or permit of the commission issued under that subchapter commits an offense. (b) An offense under Subsection (a) of this secti…