ACG H.B. 1674 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION
H.B. 1674
By: Alexander
4-29-97
Committee Report (Amended)



BACKGROUND 

The Texas Clean Air Act grants the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission (commission) authority to measure and monitor emissions of air
contaminants from a source or activity causing or resulting in emissions
of air contaminants. Because of this, incinerator manufacturers are
required to install monitors which cost more than the incinerator itself,
and sales of small incinerators have declined steadily causing one
incinerator manufacturer to strongly consider moving its manufacturing
facility out of Texas. 

PURPOSE

H.B. 1674 will allow small, dual-chambered incinerators to burn up to 500
pounds an hour of trash, rubbish and refuse without being required to have
an emissions monitor.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or
institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 382, Health and Safety Code, by
adding Section 382.0196, which exempts dual-chambered incinerators from
the requirement of having an emissions monitoring device if the
incinerator has a capacity of burning not more than 500 pounds per hour
for Type 0, 1, or 2 waste and is used only to burn Type 0, 1 or 2 waste. 

SECTION 2.  Makes the act prospective.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.




EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

Committee amendment #1 corrects a citation.