1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to permit exemptions under the Texas Clean Air Act for

 1-3     construction or modification of certain facilities.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 382.057(a), Health and Safety Code, is

 1-6     amended to read as follows:

 1-7           (a)  Consistent with Section 382.0511, the commission by rule

 1-8     may exempt from the requirements of Section 382.0518 changes within

 1-9     any [a permitted] facility and certain types of facilities if it is

1-10     found on investigation that such changes or types of facilities

1-11     will not make a significant contribution of air contaminants to the

1-12     atmosphere.  The commission by rule shall exempt from the

1-13     requirements of Section 382.0518 or issue a standard permit for the

1-14     installation of emission control equipment that constitutes a

1-15     modification or a new facility, subject to such conditions

1-16     restricting the applicability of such exemption or standard permit

1-17     that the commission deems necessary to accomplish the intent of

1-18     this chapter.  The commission may not exempt any facility or any

1-19     modification of an existing facility defined as "major" under the

1-20     federal Clean Air Act or regulations adopted under that Act.

1-21     Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the

1-22     commission's general power to control the state's air quality under

1-23     Section 382.011(a).

1-24           SECTION 2.  Not later than December 1, 1998, the Texas

 2-1     Natural Resource Conservation Commission shall develop a voluntary

 2-2     emissions reduction plan for the permitting of existing significant

 2-3     sources.

 2-4           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

 2-5           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-6     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-7     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-8     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-9     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 3019 was passed by the House on May

         16, 1997, by a non-record vote; that the House refused to concur in

         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 3019 on May 25, 1997, and requested

         the appointment of a conference committee to consider the

         differences between the two houses; and that the House adopted the

         conference committee report on H.B. No. 3019 on May 30, 1997, by a

         non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 3019 was passed by the Senate, with

         amendments, on May 23, 1997, by a viva-voce vote; at the request of

         the House, the Senate appointed a conference committee to consider

         the differences between the two houses; and that the Senate adopted

         the conference committee report on H.B. No. 3019 on May 31, 1997,

         by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor