Sec. 1901.255.  PLUGGING WATER WELL.  (a)  In this section:
(1)  "Abandoned well" means a well that is not in use.  A well is considered to be in use if:
(A)  the well is not a deteriorated well and contains the casing, pump, and pump column in good condition;
(B)  the well is not a deteriorated well and has been capped;
(C)  the water from the well has been put to an authorized beneficial use, as defined by the Water Code;
(D)  the well is used in the normal course and scope and with the intensity and frequency of other similar users in the general community;  or
(E)  the owner is participating in the Conservation Reserve Program authorized by Sections 1231-1236, Food Security Act of 1985 (16 U.S.C. Sections 3831-3836), or a similar governmental program.
(2)  "Deteriorated well" means a well that, because of its condition, will cause or is likely to cause pollution of any water in this state, including groundwater.
(b)  A driller who knows of an abandoned or deteriorated well shall notify the landowner or person who possesses the well that the well must be plugged or capped to avoid injury or pollution.
(c)  Not later than the 180th day after the date a landowner or other person who possesses an abandoned or deteriorated well learns of its condition, the landowner or other person shall have the well plugged or capped under standards and procedures adopted by the commission.
(d)  Not later than the 30th day after the date the well is plugged, a driller, licensed pump installer, or well owner who plugs an abandoned or deteriorated well shall submit a plugging report to:
(1)  the board of directors of the groundwater conservation district in which the well is located, if the well is located in the boundaries of a groundwater conservation district;  and
(2)  the executive director.
(e)  The department or the groundwater conservation district in which the well is located shall furnish plugging report forms on request.  The executive director shall prescribe the content of the forms.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1421, Sec. 4, eff. June 1, 2003.  Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 816, Sec. 19.013, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.