This section sets up advisory councils and a steering committee, and assigns them meeting, advising, appointment, and proposal-review duties.
Sec. 109.203. ADMINISTRATION. (a) The agency advisory council is composed of representatives of the: (1) Department of Agriculture; (2) General Land Office; (3) Parks and Wildlife Department; (4) Railroad Commission of Texas; (5) State Energy Conservation Office; (6) Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; (7) Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office within the office of the governor; and (8) Texas Water Development Board. (b) Each entity described by Subsection (a) shall select a representative to serve on the agency advisory council. (c) The agency advisory council shall meet as often as necessary to ensure the consortium meets the requirements of this subchapter. (d) The agency advisory council shall advise the consortium on matters related to the subject matter expertise of the agencies represented, including matters related to the regulation and permitting of and treatment standards for fluid oil and gas waste. Treatment standards may include a fit for purpose requirement and regulations necessary for the protection of public health and the environment. (e) The stakeholder advisory council is composed of representatives of: (1) the oil and gas industry; (2) agricultural water users; (3) industrial water users; (4) environmental interests; (5) fluid oil and gas waste recycling operators; (6) public water utilities; (7) landowners or owners of groundwater rights; (8) commercial water recyclers and midstream water companies; and (9) other appropriate interests or industries. (f) The host university shall appoint members to the stakeholder advisory council from members of the consortium. If no member of the consortium represents an interest or industry described by Subsection (e), the host university may appoint a person to represent the interest or industry from outside the consortium. (g) The stakeholder advisory council shall advise the consortium on matters related to research, investigation, and contract development. (h) The technical and economic steering committee is composed of members appointed by the host university to provide technical, economic, and scientific expertise. The technical and economic steering committee shall determine the feasibility of proposals for research or investigation by the consortium and decide which proposals the consortium will accept for research or investigation. Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 941 (S.B. 601), Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 2021.