By Hinojosa H.C.R. No. 161 75R9043 EFD-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The goals of environmental regulation, to protect 1-2 the health and safety of the public and to preserve the 1-3 environmental resources of the planet, are of paramount importance 1-4 to the citizens of the Lone Star State, who care greatly about the 1-5 quality of the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the land 1-6 they live on; and 1-7 WHEREAS, In working toward these worthy goals, public 1-8 officials must not neglect the concerns and needs of regulated 1-9 business and industry in this state and must strive to promote 1-10 policies that help companies succeed in meeting measurable 1-11 objectives for environmental protection; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Recognizing that environmental needs vary from state 1-13 to state, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 1-14 has implemented the National Environmental Performance Partnership 1-15 System; this program allows states to enter into agreements with 1-16 the EPA and take over many aspects of environmental regulation, 1-17 thereby gaining increased flexibility to tailor programs to the 1-18 unique needs of each state; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Texas is poised to enter into a partnership 1-20 agreement with the EPA, but the state does not have systems in 1-21 place to ensure that all statewide regulatory agencies make 1-22 decisions using the same framework to evaluate the effects of 1-23 activities on the environment and to set tangible and achievable 1-24 improvement objectives; and 2-1 WHEREAS, To take on this challenge of innovation in 2-2 regulation, the state must adopt indicators that measure 2-3 environmental conditions and illustrate how those conditions 2-4 change; to make wise environmental policy decisions, elected 2-5 officials and the public must have a template that translates raw 2-6 scientific data into the actual health, economic, and aesthetic 2-7 effects that are felt in everyday life; now, therefore, be it 2-8 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-9 hereby direct the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission to 2-10 work in conjunction with the General Land Office, the Texas Water 2-11 Development Board, the Texas Department of Agriculture, the Texas 2-12 Department of Health, the Railroad Commission of Texas, and the 2-13 Parks and Wildlife Department to formulate a set of environmental 2-14 indicators to be used by state agencies in Texas; and, be it 2-15 further 2-16 RESOLVED, That these environmental indicators include the 2-17 effects on the health and safety of the public, the 2-18 cost-effectiveness of current regulatory practices for the 2-19 regulated community, and the impact of environmental activities on 2-20 the health and maintenance of naturally occurring ecosystems in 2-21 this state; and, be it further 2-22 RESOLVED, That the Texas Natural Resource Conservation 2-23 Commission submit a full report of its findings and recommendations 2-24 to the 76th Legislature when that legislature convenes in January 2-25 1999; and, be it further 2-26 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 2-27 copy of this resolution to the chairman of the Texas Natural 3-1 Resource Conservation Commission.