LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                          Austin, Texas

                           FISCAL NOTE
                       74th Regular Session

                           May 5, 1995



 TO:     Honorable Bill Sims, Chair             IN RE: Committee Substitute
         Committee on Natural Resources                       for Senate
         Senate                                 Bill No. 1697
         Austin, Texas                                  By: Bivins









FROM: John Keel, Director

In response to your request for a Fiscal Note on Senate Bill No.
1697 (Relating to the storage, processing, and disposal of
radioactive waste, low-level waste, and mixed waste.) this office
has determined the following:

The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal
basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions
of the bill.

The bill would allow the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission to issue a radioactive waste disposal license for the
disposal of low level radioactive and hazardous waste to a
private entity if that entity holds a permit to operate a
hazardous waste landfill in a certain county or counties.  The
bill would allow entities who hold such licenses to accept waste
from other states for processing, storage, or disposal, subject
to applicable permit conditions.  The bill would also provide
time restrictions for the storage of low level radioactive waste
by the license holder.  TNRCC would be responsible for processing
the license permit application and providing the site assessment. 
Associated costs for these activities would be offset by permit
application and disposal fees.

The probable fiscal implication of implementing the provisions of
the bill during each of the first  five years following passage
is estimated as follows:
         







        
            Fiscal  Probable Cost Out    Probable Revenue      Change in    
             Year         of  GR          Gain from  GR     Number of State 
                      Consolidated -      Consolidated -     Employees from 
                       Radioactive         Radioactive          FY 1995     
                    Substance Fee 340   Substance Fee 340                   
                                                                            
          1996                $202,179            $202,179               3.0
          1997                 425,013             425,013               7.0
                                                                            
          1998                 487,277             487,277               8.0
                                                                            
          1999                 180,440             180,440               3.0
          2000                 180,440             180,440               3.0
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                                                            
       Similar annual fiscal implications would continue as long as the
provisions of the bill are in effect.

No fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.


Source:   Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission,
                         Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal
Authority
          LBB Staff: JK, JH, DF