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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to air quality permits issued by the Texas Commission on |
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Environmental Quality for certain oil and gas facilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 382, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 382.051965 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 382.051965. INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS |
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FOR OIL AND GAS FACILITIES. (a) A permit by rule or a standard |
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permit relating to a facility described by Section 382.051961(a) |
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must require: |
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(1) the permit holder of a new facility or an existing |
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facility that has been modified to establish a quarterly inspection |
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and maintenance program for the detection and repair of leaks from |
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all valves, pump seals, flanges, compressor seals, pressure relief |
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valves, open-ended lines, tanks, and other process and operation |
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components of the facility that could result in fugitive emissions; |
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(2) for a new facility, a prohibition on the use of |
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venting and limitations on the use of flaring; |
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(3) for an existing facility that has been modified, |
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the elimination of the use of venting and a reduction in the use of |
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flaring; |
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(4) limitations on emissions of volatile organic |
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compounds from storage tanks that have the potential to emit more |
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than one ton of volatile organic compounds per year; |
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(5) limitations on emissions of nitrogen oxides from |
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compressor engines with more than 100 horsepower; |
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(6) maintenance protocols and best practices for |
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compressor stations; and |
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(7) the use and maintenance of no-bleed and low-bleed |
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pneumatic devices and controllers between a wellhead and a natural |
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gas processing plant and the monitoring of emissions from those |
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devices. |
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(b) A program described by Subsection (a)(1) must require |
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the use of leak detection equipment such as optical gas imaging |
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cameras. |
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(c) In adopting rules to implement this section, the |
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commission may consider: |
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(1) applying different standards to new facilities and |
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facilities that have been modified; and |
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(2) using incentives to encourage the use of best |
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practices at facilities subject to this section. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than June 1, 2022, the Texas Commission |
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on Environmental Quality shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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implement Section 382.051965, Health and Safety Code, as added by |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |