88R7277 ANG-F     By: Guillen H.B. No. 4120       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the inspection of the location of a proposed Class I   injection well.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 27.016, Water Code, is amended to read as   follows:          Sec. 27.016.  INSPECTION OF WELL LOCATION.  (a)  On receiving   an application for a permit, the executive director shall:                (1)  have an inspection made of the location of the   proposed disposal well to determine the local conditions and the   probable effect of the well; and                (2)  [shall] determine the requirements for the setting   of casing, as provided in Sections 27.051, 27.055, and 27.056 [of   this code].          (b)  For a proposed Class I injection well, the executive   director may satisfy the requirements of Subsection (a) by   accepting an inspection report prepared by an engineer or   geoscientist licensed in this state.  The report must:                (1)  confirm that the engineer or geoscientist   inspected the location of the proposed injection well to determine   the local conditions and the probable effect of the well; and                (2)  state the engineer's or geoscientist's   determination regarding the requirements for the setting of casing   as required by Subsection (a)(2).          (c)  An engineer or geoscientist may conduct an inspection   under Subsection (b)(1):                (1)  in person at the location of the proposed   injection well; or                (2)  virtually through:                      (A)  satellite or other aerial imagery;                      (B)  mapping software; or                      (C)  other appropriate information sources.          SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only   to a permit application filed with the Texas Commission on   Environmental Quality on or after the effective date of this Act.  A   permit application filed before the effective date of this Act is   subject to the law in effect on the date the application is filed,   and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.