TITLE 31.NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION

Part 1. GENERAL LAND OFFICE

Chapter 3. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Subchapter C. SERVICES AND PRODUCTS

31 TAC §3.31

The General Land Office (GLO) proposes the amendment of Title 31, Part 1, Chapter 3, Subchapter C, §3.31(a)(7)(D) of the Texas Administrative Code relating to Fees. The proposed amendment to §3.31(a)(7)(D) will delete redundant wording and cause no substantive change to the meaning of the rule. The General Land Office (GLO) also proposes new subsection (a)(7)(F) in Title 31, Part 1, Chapter 3, Subchapter C, §3.31 relating to Fees. The proposed new subparagraph (F) will contain the fees for copies that the GLO must make while processing a vacancy application pursuant to Tex. Nat. Res. Code Subchapter E, §§51.171 - 51.195. The amendments are proposed under Tex. Nat. Res. Code §51.174(c), which provides the GLO with the authority to adopt rules necessary and convenient to administer the Sale and Lease of Vacancies Tex. Nat. Res. Code Title 2, Subchapter E.

The proposed amendment to §3.31(a)(7)(D) will remove the word "evidence" which, upon review, staff has determined to be unnecessary. The proposed amendment to §3.31(a)(7)(F) will allow the GLO to charge between $.10 and $.50 per page for copies based on the size of the copy and whether it is a color copy. The proposed amendment will also allow the GLO to charge $2.00 per linear foot for sketches, plats, and survey maps larger than 11 inches by 17 inches. This amendment is proposed to cover the cost of copies made by the GLO in accordance with the Vacancy Statutes as amended by the S.B. 1103, 79th Leg, R.S. (2005).

Mr. Bill O'Hara, Chief Surveyor of the General Land Office, has determined that during the first five-year period the proposed amendment and proposed new section are in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state or local governments. These rules do not have any fiscal impact or affect on state or local governments; the costs of preparing and filing an application to purchase or lease vacant land are borne by the applicant and the GLO processing of the applications are already accounted for in GLO budgeting.

Mr. O'Hara has also determined that for each year of the first five years the proposed amendment and proposed new section are in effect, the public will benefit from the establishment of reasonable fees for copies. There will be no effect on small businesses or local economies as the result of proposed amendment and proposed new section.

Comments on the proposed rulemaking may be submitted to Deborah Cantu, Texas Register Liaison, Texas General Land Office, P.O. Box 12873, Austin, TX 78711-2873, facsimile number (512) 463-6311, or email to deborah.cantu@glo.state.tx.us. Comments must be received by no later than thirty (30) days from the date of publication of this proposal.

These rules are proposed under the authority of Tex. Nat. Res. Code §51.174(c) (Vernon Supp. 2006), which authorizes the commissioner to adopt rules necessary and convenient to administer the vacancy subchapter.

Tex. Nat. Res. Code, Sale and Lease of Vacancies, §§51.171 - 51.195, are affected by these proposed rules.

§3.31.Fees.

(a) General.

(1) Form of payment. Fees may be paid by cash, check, or other legal means acceptable to the General Land Office. Payment by means of electronic funds transfer may be required by Texas Government Code §404.095, §9.51 of this title (relating to Royalty and Reporting Obligations to the State), or by other chapters of this title.

(2) Time for payment. Payment is generally required in advance of issuance of permits, leases and other documents and/or delivery of services and/or materials by the General Land Office.

(3) Dishonor or nonpayment by other means. In the event a fee is not paid due to dishonor, nonpayment, or otherwise, the General Land Office shall have no further obligation to issue permits, leases and other documents and/or provide services and/or materials to the permittee, lessee, or applicant.

(b) General Land Office fees. The commissioner is authorized and required to collect the following fees where applicable.

(1) Cost of land title documents.

(A) Preparation of each patent or deed of acquittance: $100.

(B) Filing fee, original field notes: $25.

(C) Filing fee, corrected field notes: no charge.

(D) Filing fee, other instruments required by law to be filed with the General Land Office or accepted for filing by the General Land Office: $25 per instrument.

(E) recording fee per document, per county: the greater of $10 or the actual amount charged by the county clerk.

(2) Certificates of facts:

(A) Narrative certificates of fact consisting of all data from the inception of chain of title to the date of perfection of title and mineral history in paragraph form, short form certificate of fact (consisting of original award date, patent, deeds of acquittance, classification, current mineral history) and supplemental or limited certificates of fact (consisting of specific information or start date for history of a specific tract land):

(i) mineral classified land: per file: $100;

(ii) non-mineral classified land: per file: $75;

(B) Spanish documents: $75 per document, in addition to fees due under §1.3(b)(2)(A)(i) and (ii).

(3) Certified and non-certified classification letters:

(A) Certified classification letter: per file: $50;

(B) Non-certified classification letter: $10 per file.

(4) Maps and sketches: The General Land Office, Surveying Division reserves the right to deny duplication of any map or document in the Surveying Division considered too fragile or brittle to safely copy.

(A) Official county maps: $15 per map.

(B) Sketches (large format digital copies); per linear foot: $2.00.

(C) Working sketch, per hour ($60 minimum): $40.

(D) Digitally reproduced archival map collection on special printer paper.

(i) 48 inches or less: $20 per map plus $8.00 shipping and handling;

(ii) greater than 48 inches: $40 per map plus $8.00 shipping and handling.

(E) Digitally reproduced archival map collection on CD-ROM/DVD-ROM.

(i) cost of disk: CD $11, DVD: $16;

(ii) cost per image: $10;

(iii) digitization of unscanned map or sketch: $25.

(5) Digital mapping (GIS):

(A) GIS maps printed on special printer paper:

(i) 8.5 inch by 11 inch: $7.00;

(ii) 30 inch by 36 inch: $19;

(iii) 36 inch by 48 inch: $27.

(B) Computer charges for GIS data placed on CD-ROM:

(i) cost of disk: $11;

(ii) programming personnel charge: $26 per hour;

(iii) computer resource charge: $1.50 per minute.

(C) Postage and handling: $15 per package.

(6) Spanish translations:

(A) Original translations: $.15 per word.

(B) Copies of previously translated Spanish or Mexican titles: $2.00 per page.

(7) Vacancies:

(A) Application fee: $150.

(B) Filing fee for original field notes: $25.

(C) Affidavit Filing Fee: $25.

(D) Each deed, title opinion, or other document [ evidence ] needed to satisfy the commissioner of claimant's status. Filing fee for each document submitted as required: $25.

(E) Petition For Disqualification of Surveyor costs associated including hearing, mailing copies, other expenses, non-refundable: $250.

(F) Copying Fees:

(i) Black and white photocopies, per page:

(I) 8.5 inch by 11 inch: $.10

(II) 8.5 inch by 14 inch: $.10

(III) 11 inch by 17 inch: $.25

(ii) Color photocopies, per page:

(I) 8.5 inch by 11 inch: $.25

(II) 8.5 inch by 14 inch: $.25

(III) 11 inch by 17 inch: $.50

(IV) Sketches, plats and survey maps (larger than 11 inch by 17 inch): $2.00 per linear foot.

(8) Appraisal fees. Appraisal fees are charged for appraisals required by applications for deeds of acquittance and vacancies: For each tract: $500.

(9) Duplication fees--For purposes of this section the term Archival Records is defined as records maintained in the Archives and Records Division of the Texas General Land Office. The Archives and Records Division reserves the right to deny duplication of any document or map considered too fragile or brittle to safely copy. In addition, the Archives and Records Division reserves the right to specify what method(s) or reproduction may be used. Archival records for all original records affecting land titles, including original land grant files, Spanish Collection materials, school land and scrap files:

(A) Black and white photocopies and microfilm copies, per page:

(i) 8.5 inch by 11 inch: $1.00;

(ii) 8.5 inch by 14 inch: $1.00;

(iii) 11 inch by 17 inch: $2.00.

(B) Color photocopies, per page:

(i) 8.5 inch by 11 inch: $2.00;

(ii) 8.5 inch by 14 inch: $2.00;

(iii) 11 inch by 17 inch: $3.00.

(C) Recorded media:

(i) VHS videotape, each $10.00, other video formats $20.00 per 30 Minutes, $30.00 per 60 Minutes;

(ii) Audio cassettes, each: $7.50, audio transfer fee, $25.00 per hour, 1/2 hour minimum;

(iii) Video Transfer Fee, 1/2 hour - $25.00, 1/2 hour minimum.

(10) Genealogy search:

(A) Per name: $10.00.

(B) Field notes research, per quarter hour (minimum $10): $10.

(C) Other research of the official records of the General Land Office, per hour (minimum 1/2 hour): $25.

(11) Mailing fees:

(A) Mailing Tubes, each: $3.00.

(B) Registered mail, each item: $9.75 or current United States Postal Service rate.

(C) Handling and preparation for mailing, each item: $15.00 per package (optional).

(D) Certified mail, each item; $4.25 or current United States Postal Service rate.

(12) Certification:

(A) Individual instruments or maps: $2.00.

(B) Contents of complete files, each file: $25.

(C) Copy of official Spanish translations, each: $25.

(13) Publications:

(A) Abstract volume (on microfiche): $12.50.

(B) Abstract volume supplement (hard copy and on microfiche): $10.

(C) Abstract volume (digital on CD) $11.00.

(D) Abstract volume supplement (digital on CD) $11.00.

(E) Spanish Collection Catalogue (Part I) $15.00.

(F) Spanish Collection Catalogue (Part II) $15.00.

(14) Submerged lease data:

(A) Annual subscription rate: $300.

(B) Monthly rate: $25.

(C) Single copy, subscriber: $37.50.

(D) Single copy, non-subscriber: $75.

(E) Energy information service, per year: $180.

(F) Magnetic tape, per tape: $165.

(15) Geophysical and geochemical exploration:

(A) Non-Relinquishment Act lands:

(i) permit application filing fee: $100.

(ii) exploration and surface/bottom damage fees for unleased tracts in bays, other tideland areas, and the Gulf of Mexico.

(I) high velocity energy sources:

(-a-) $5.00 per acre in bays and other tideland areas;

(-b-) $2.00 per acre in the Gulf of Mexico;

(II) low velocity energy sources:

(-a-) $2.50 per acre in bays and other tideland areas;

(-b-) $1.00 per acre in the Gulf of Mexico;

(III) other exploration techniques: negotiable;

(iii) surface damage fees for unleased uplands:

(I) vibroseis: $2.50 per acre;

(II) high velocity energy sources: $5.00 per acre;

(III) gravity meter and/or magnetometer: fair market value, but not less than $2.50 per acre;

(IV) other exploration techniques: negotiable.

(B) Relinquishment Act lands:

(i) permit application filing fee: $100;

(ii) all fees for actual surface damages to personal property, improvements, livestock, and crops on unleased Relinquishment Act lands, if any, are to be negotiated with the surface owner. Any fees in excess of those attributable to the types of surface damages listed in this paragraph must be shared equally with the state.

(16) Miscellaneous services and fees:

(A) In-kind contract maintenance fee. Processing and accounting for in-kind oil, gas, and other related product contracts, from purchaser of state-owned products unless deemed unnecessary by the Commissioner: per barrel delivered: $.05; per MMBTU delivered: $.03.

(B) Relinquishment Act lease processing fee: $100.

(C) highway right-of-way lease processing fee, including preparation of lease: $100.

(D) pooling application processing fee, including preparation and filing of pooling agreements: $100.

(E) oil, gas, and mineral lease application and filing fee, including processing, lease preparation, and filing of any oil, gas, or mineral lease not subject to other processing or nomination fees: $100.

(F) tract nomination fee, oil, gas, or mineral sealed bid lease sale fee: $100.

(G) prospect permit filing fee: $50.

(H) insufficient check fee (for each check returned): $25.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 8, 2007.

TRD-200700030

Trace L. Finley

Policy Director

General Land Office

Earliest possible date of adoption: February 18, 2007

For further information, please call: (512) 305-8598