Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 1190 substantially revises the Texas clean rivers act as passed by the legislature in 1991 and amends provisions of the Water Code regarding water quality monitoring and assessments. The act restores funding for the clean rivers program, which was scheduled to terminate August 31, 1998, and directs the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission to adopt rules to ensure that program funds are equitably apportioned among basins.

            The act sets out participation requirements for basin-wide steering committees and establishes a definition for "quality assured data." It requires the commission to promulgate rules to develop a monitoring program, establish a water quality database using quality assured data, identify water quality problems and pollution sources, develop a process for public participation and review, and recommend water quality strategies for correcting identified water quality problems and pollution sources. The commission is also authorized to consolidate any fee assessed against a wastewater permit holder with the assessment of a wastewater inspection fee.

            The act also changes the mandate for all cities having a population of 5,000 or more to establish a water pollution control and abatement program to cover only those cities having a population of 10,000 or more where pollution impacts have been identified through clean rivers program or commission assessments. Cities are authorized to contract with a river authority or another political subdivision to perform any or all services and functions that are part of a water pollution control and abatement program and the commission may assist cities in identifying and obtaining funds and technical assistance to carry out the program.