Monday, February 28, 2011
Texas Senate public hearing Tuesday on groundwater ownership
Note: We received this update from Curtis Chubb of Milan County, another one of many Texans who are closely following groundwater-related issues. There must be something in the water.
Send your comments and news tips to roundup.editor@gmail.com, to Dr. Chubb at texas.rain@sbcglobal.net or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story
First, just found your blog (The Hays County RoundUp) - and was surprised and happy to see that you considered my writing worthy of being cited. Thank you.
Tuesday will be a big day for our groundwater rights - the Senate Natural Resources Committee will be hearing public testimony concerning groundwater ownership. I plan to be there - and possibly speak.
The other purpose of this e-mail is to alert you that Representative Erwin Cain has filed House Joint Resolution (H.J.R. No. 94) which proposes a constitutional amendment requiring that directors of groundwater conservation districts be elected.
Please contact Representative Cain and express your support for his efforts. I live within the boundaries of a groundwater "permitting" district which has directors appointed by the commissioners court - the people have no voice in what happens to our groundwater.
Thanking you for considering my request for help,
Curtis Chubb, Ph.D. Milam County 512/455-9180
PS Representative Cain's Web site is http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/?district=3
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2 comments:
Many bills concerning groundwater
have been filed in both the Texas
House and Senate. On March 1,
the public was able to comment on
them before the Natural Resources
Committee of the Senate.
Two bills which address ownership
of groundwater were left pending
in committee (Fraser's SB 332 &
Duncan's SB 667). It is doubtful whether the Texas Lege will get
around to acting on water bills
this session because the Lege is
obligated to act first on items
which Gov. Perry has determined to
name "emergency" measures. Such as
requiring sonograms before abortion.
Another reason that action on water
is unlikely is that the Lege really
doesn't want to tackle the problem.
There are several cases before the
TX Supreme Court which the Lege
hopes will do the job for them.
The first anonymous is correct. The Supremes and the Lege have been pitching water bills and issues back and forth like a hot potato since the 1904 Houston & Texas Central Railroad Co. v. East case which gave us the Rule of Capture. The Lege is more concerned with nanny-state bills, abortion and license plates. Their inattention to water since setting up GCDs has caused chaos in our state and possibly harmed our future. The Governor should call them back into a special session and not let them go home until they act to stiffen and clarify the State’s water laws. Sadly, we will still be waiting when we have to start recycling and processing our wastewater for drinking.
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