Enrolled Bill Summary

            House Bill 2310 amends the Agriculture Code to continue the State Soil and Water Conservation Board until September 1, 2013. Provisions of the bill relating to nonpoint source pollution require the board to update at least every four years its identification of priority areas for pollution control, to give greater weight to priority areas in its associated fund allocation, and to provide to the agricultural community information regarding its legal jurisdiction and that of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC). The board must maintain detailed records of enforcement referrals to the TNRCC and must notify that agency within 10 business days if it decertifies a water quality management plan for an animal feeding operation. The bill authorizes the board, on request of the landowner, to create and certify such a plan for land on which animal waste is applied for agricultural purposes. It establishes when an animal feeding facility in a major sole source impairment zone need or need not obtain a permit for beneficial animal waste application to land that is not owned or controlled by the facility owner or operator. The bill grants the Texas Department of Agriculture authority to represent the state before any federal agency with respect to state participation in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Other provisions of the bill require soil and water conservation hearing and election notices to be both by newspaper publication and conspicuous public posting and establish procedures for the election of board directors for local soil and water conservation districts.