Title NR, Natural Resources Code

Sec. 81.053. COMMISSION POWERS. In the discharge of its duties and the enforcement of its jurisdiction under this title, the commission shall: (1) institute suits; (2) hear and determine complaints; (3) require the attendance of witnesses and pay their expenses out of funds provi…

Sec. 81.0531. 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. 81.0532. PENALTY ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE. (a) A civil penalty may be assessed only after the person charged with a violation described under Section 81.0531 of this code has been given an opportunity for a public hearing. (b) If a public hearing has been held, the commission sh…

Sec. 81.0533. PAYMENT OF PENALTY; REFUND. (a) On the issuance of an order finding that a violation has occurred, the commission shall inform the person charged within 30 days of the amount of the penalty. (b) Within the 30-day period immediately following the day on which the dec…

Sec. 81.0534. RECOVERY OF PENALTY. Civil penalties owed under Sections 81.0531-81.0533 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. 1407, ch. 286, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1983.

Sec. 81.054. ENFORCEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL. (a) The attorney general shall enforce the provision of this title by injunction or other adequate remedy and as otherwise provided by law. (b) If an action is instituted by the attorney general under this section alleging a violation…

Sec. 81.055. PIPELINE SYSTEM FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. (a) Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1083, Sec. 25(132), eff. June 17, 2011. (b) If the legislature finds that adoption of such a requirement is desirable, the commission by rule may require an owner, …

Sec. 81.056. CONTAMINATION REPORT. (a) In this section: (1) "Common carrier" has the meaning assigned by Section 111.002. (2) "Owner of the land" or "landowner" means the first person who is shown on the appraisal roll of the appraisal district established for the county in which…

Sec. 81.057. EXEMPTION FROM CERTAIN PURCHASING RULES. The commission is not required to follow any purchasing procedures prescribed by or under Subchapter E, Chapter 2155, Government Code, when the commission makes a purchase in connection with the remediation of surface location…

Sec. 81.058. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY FOR CERTAIN NATURAL GAS-RELATED ACTIVITIES. (a) The commission, after notice and opportunity for hearing, may impose an administrative penalty against a purchaser, transporter, gatherer, shipper, or seller of natural gas, a person described by …

Sec. 81.059. APPOINTMENT OF MEDIATORS FOR INFORMAL COMPLAINTS. (a) The commission may provide for the appointment of a commission staff member as the mediator of an informal complaint filed with the commission, or the parties may agree to employ and pay an independent mediator fo…

Sec. 81.0591. COMPLAINTS. (a) The commission shall maintain a file on each written complaint filed with the commission. The file must include: (1) the name of the person who filed the complaint; (2) the date the complaint is received by the commission; (3) the subject matter of t…

Sec. 81.0592. CONSUMER INTEREST INFORMATION. (a) The commission shall prepare information of consumer interest describing the regulatory functions of the commission and the procedures by which consumer complaints are filed with and resolved by the commission. (b) The commission s…

Sec. 81.060. CONFIDENTIALITY PROVISIONS. (a) A confidentiality provision may not be required in a contract to which a producer is a party for the sale, transportation, or gathering of natural gas that is entered into on or after September 1, 2007. (b) A confidentiality provision …

Sec. 81.061. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH MARKET-BASED RATES. (a) This section does not apply to rates established under Chapter 103, Utilities Code, or Subchapter C or G, Chapter 104, of that code. (b) The commission may use a cost-of-service method or a market-based rate method in se…

Sec. 81.062. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. The commission shall develop and implement policies that provide the public with a reasonable opportunity to appear before the commission and to speak on any issue under the jurisdiction of the commission. Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch…

Sec. 81.063. ISSUANCE, SUSPENSION, OR REVOCATION OF LICENSE, PERMIT, OR CERTIFICATE. (a) If the commission proposes to suspend or revoke a person's license, permit, or certificate of public convenience and necessity, the person is entitled to a hearing before the commission. (b) …

Sec. 81.064. POWERS OF COMMISSIONER OR DESIGNATED EMPLOYEE IN CASES BEFORE COMMISSION. (a) In a case before the commission, a commissioner, or an authorized commission employee, designated by the commission for that purpose, in the same manner as if the entire commission were pre…

Sec. 81.065. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION POLICY. (a) The commission shall develop and implement a policy to encourage the use of appropriate alternative dispute resolution procedures under Chapter 2009, Government Code, to assist in the resolution of internal and external disp…

Sec. 81.066. OIL AND GAS DIVISION MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT STRATEGIC PLAN. (a) The oil and gas division of the commission shall develop and publish an annual plan for each state fiscal year to use the oil and gas monitoring and enforcement resources of the commission strategica…

Sec. 81.067. OIL AND GAS REGULATION AND CLEANUP FUND. (a) The oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund is created as an account in the general revenue fund of the state treasury. (b) Repealed by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 55 (H.B. 2675), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2019. (c) Th…

Sec. 81.068. PURPOSES OF OIL AND GAS REGULATION AND CLEANUP FUND. Money in the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund may be used by the commission or its employees or agents for any purpose related to the regulation of oil and gas development, including oil and gas monitoring a…

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 …

Sec. 81.070. ESTABLISHMENT OF SURCHARGES ON FEES. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the commission by rule shall provide for the imposition of reasonable surcharges as necessary on fees imposed by the commission that are required to be deposited to the credit of the oil a…

Sec. 81.071. PIPELINE SAFETY AND REGULATORY FEES. (a) The commission by rule may establish pipeline safety and regulatory fees to be assessed for permits or registrations for pipelines under the jurisdiction of the commission's pipeline safety and regulatory program. (b) The comm…

Sec. 81.072. VERIFICATION BY CONTRACTORS. (a) In this section, "E-verify program" has the meaning assigned by Section 673.001, Government Code. (b) The commission may not award a contract for goods or services in this state to a contractor unless the contractor and any subcontrac…

Sec. 81.073. CRITICAL NATURAL GAS FACILITIES AND ENTITIES. (a) The commission shall collaborate with the Public Utility Commission of Texas to adopt rules to establish a process to designate certain natural gas facilities and entities associated with providing natural gas in this…

Sec. 81.075. TEXAS HYDROGEN PRODUCTION POLICY COUNCIL. (a) In this section, "council" means the Texas hydrogen production policy council. (b) The Texas hydrogen production policy council is established within the commission to study and make recommendations relating to the commis…

Sec. 81.091. INCRIMINATING TESTIMONY. If a witness fails or refuses to appear on being summoned, to answer any question he is asked, or to produce any record or data required by subpoena, the claim that the testimony may tend to incriminate the person giving it does not excuse th…

Sec. 81.092. FEE FOR EXECUTING PROCESS. The sheriff or constable executing process shall receive the compensation authorized by the commission. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2510, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec. 81.093. DEPOSITIONS. (a) In a matter pending for hearing before the commission or a division of the commission, the commission or an interested party may produce the testimony of a witness by written or oral deposition instead of compelling the personal attendance of the wit…

Sec. 81.115. APPROPRIATIONS TO COMMISSION FOR OIL AND GAS REGULATION AND CLEANUP PURPOSES. Money appropriated to the commission under the General Appropriations Act for the purposes described by Section 81.068 shall be paid from the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund or othe…

Sec. 81.116. OIL-FIELD CLEANUP REGULATORY FEE ON OIL. (a) An oil-field cleanup regulatory fee is imposed on crude petroleum produced in this state in the amount of five-eighths of one cent on each barrel of 42 standard gallons. (b) The fee is in addition to, and independent of an…

Sec. 81.117. OIL-FIELD CLEANUP REGULATORY FEE ON GAS. (a) An oil-field cleanup regulatory fee is imposed on gas initially produced and saved in this state in the amount of one-fifteenth of one cent for each thousand cubic feet. (b) The fee is in addition to, and independent of an…

Sec. 81.151. PENALTY FOR CAMPAIGNING. A person who receives a salary from funds provided under this title and who uses his time or a state-owned automobile for campaign purposes or for the purpose of furthering the candidacy of his employer or any other candidate for state office…

Sec. 81.152. DISCHARGE AND INELIGIBILITY. A person found guilty under Section 81.151 of this code shall be discharged immediately from his position and shall be ineligible for employment by the state in the future. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2511, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept…

Sec. 81.153. SETTING CIVIL COMPLAINT FOR HEARING. If a citizen of this state files a civil complaint with a district court in Travis County charging an employee with use of his time or a state-owned automobile for campaign purposes or to further the candidacy of his employer or a…

Sec. 81.154. NOTICE TO EMPLOYEE. The court shall have notice of the hearing served on the employee against whom the complaint was filed at least five days before the date of the hearing. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2511, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977.

Sec. 81.155. COURT'S ORDER. At the hearing, if the court determines that the employee has used his time or a state-owned automobile as charged in the complaint, the court shall certify the fact to the department, agency, or commission which employs the person and order the employ…

Sec. 81.156. APPEAL. Any person against whom charges have been filed is entitled to appeal to the court of appeals, but the pendency of the appeal does not suspend his discharge. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2512, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1977. Amended by Acts 1981, 67t…

Sec. 82.0101. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "oil and gas operation" has the meaning assigned by Section 81.0523. Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 897 (H.B. 33), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.

Sec. 82.0102. ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN FEDERAL LAWS REGULATING OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS. (a) An agency of this state or a person employed by an agency of this state may not contract with or in any other manner provide assistance to a federal agency or official with respect to the enf…

Sec. 85.001. DEFINITIONS. (a) In this chapter: (1) "Commission" means the Railroad Commission of Texas. (2) "Pool," "common pool," "field," or "common source of supply" means a common reservoir. (3) "Pool" means an underground reservoir containing a connected accumulation of crud…

Sec. 85.002. ANTITRUST AND MONOPOLY STATUTES. (a) The provisions of this chapter that were formerly a part of Chapter 26, Acts of the 42nd Legislature, 1st Called Session, 1931, as amended, Chapter 2, Acts of the 42nd Legislature, 4th Called Session, 1932, as amended, and Chapter…

Sec. 85.011. SUPERVISORS, DEPUTY SUPERVISORS, AND UMPIRES. The commission shall employ all supervisors, deputy supervisors, and umpires necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter and other related laws and rules and orders of the commission. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 25…

Sec. 85.012. ASSISTANTS AND CLERICAL HELP. The commission shall employ other assistants and clerical help necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter and other related laws and rules and orders of the commission. Acts 1977, 65th Leg., p. 2515, ch. 871, art. I, Sec. 1, e…