By Junell                                            H.C.R. No. 331

         75R17535 EFD-D                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, The population of Texas is increasing at a rapid

 1-2     rate, and it is a challenge to keep pace with the growing demand

 1-3     for essential services in many areas; residential subdivisions in

 1-4     several regions of the state have developed beyond the limits of

 1-5     centralized water and sewage facilities; and

 1-6           WHEREAS, Confronted with the problem of obtaining water and

 1-7     sewage services, many residents have chosen to draw their water

 1-8     from private wells and to use on-site sewage facilities such as

 1-9     septic tank systems; and

1-10           WHEREAS, In response to concern about the performance of

1-11     on-site sewage facilities, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation

1-12     Commission (TNRCC) recently adopted new rules and regulations

1-13     regarding the installation and operation of these facilities; the

1-14     changes address technical improvements, education and certification

1-15     requirements, site evaluation requirements, program funding, and

1-16     program administration and oversight; and

1-17           WHEREAS, While the new rules are the result of negotiations

1-18     and deliberations among the regulated community, consumers, and

1-19     state and local officials, implementation of these measures has

1-20     raised concern about varying regional impacts and about certain

1-21     provisions that may unnecessarily increase the costs of installing

1-22     on-site sewage facilities; now, therefore, be it

1-23           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

1-24     hereby directs the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission

 2-1     to review the effects of new regulations regarding on-site sewage

 2-2     facilities and to consider whether such regulations should be

 2-3     revised in light of any determined detrimental effects; and, be it

 2-4     further

 2-5           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official

 2-6     copy of this resolution to the chair of the Texas Natural Resource

 2-7     Conservation Commission.