House Bill No. 4572 aims to enhance the regulation of reserve and mud circulation pits used for the storage and disposal of oil and gas waste by the Railroad Commission of Texas. The bill introduces a new section, Section 91.119, to the Natural Resources Code, which defines "mud circulation pit" and "reserve pit" and mandates the commission to adopt rules governing their use. These rules will establish minimum siting standards, uniform technical and construction standards, bonding and financial security requirements, groundwater monitoring standards, and protocols for notifying landowners about the burial of oil and gas waste.

Additionally, the bill requires operators to notify the county clerk within 30 days after the closure of a pit used for the permanent burial of oil and gas waste. This notice must include a legal description of the pit's location and details about the type and volume of waste buried. The county clerk is then required to record this notice at no charge in the official public records. The provisions of this bill are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

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