SRC-ARR S.B. 766 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 766
By: Brown
Natural Resources
3/29/1999
As Filed
DIGEST
Currently Texas law requires a person to obtain a permit from the Texas
Natural Resource Conservation Commission (commission) prior to beginning
work on the construction of a new facility or modification of an existing
facility which may emit air contaminants. S.B. 766 authorizes the
commission to issue a voluntary emissions reduction permit to facilities
not subject to the requirements of obtaining permits.
PURPOSE
As proposed, S.B. 766 regulates the issuance of certain permits for the
emission of air contaminants.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission in SECTION 2 (Section 382.051(a), Health and Safety Code),
SECTION 3 (Section 382.05101, Health and Safety Code), SECTION 5 (Section
382.05181(b), (e), and (g) and Section 382.05182 (a) and (b), Health and
Safety Code) and SECTION 9 (Section 382.0629(b), Health and Safety Code) of
this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subdivision (9) Section 382.003, Health and Safety Code,
to redefine "modification of existing facility."
SECTION 2. Amends Sections 382.051(a) and (b), Health and Safety Code, to
authorize the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (commission)
to issue a permit to operate an existing facility pursuant to a voluntary
emissions reduction permit or a permit, by rule, for types of facilities
that will not significantly contribute air contaminants to the atmosphere,
and a multiple plant permit for existing facilities at multiple locations
subject to Section 382.0518 or 382.0519. Makes conforming changes.
SECTION 3. Amends Chapter 382C, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section
382.05101, as follows:
Sec. 382.05101. DE MINIMIS AIR CONTAMINANTS. Authorizes the commission to
develop, by rule, the criteria to establish a de minimis level of air
contaminants for facilities or groups of facilities below which no permit
under Section 382.05181 or 382.0519, standard permit under section 382.0518
or permit by rule under Section 382.05182 will be required.
SECTION 4. Amends Sections 382.0511(a) and (c), Health and Safety Code, to
authorize the commission to consolidate into a single permit standard
permits, and permit by rule. Authorizes the commission to authorize changes
in a federal source to proceed before the owner or operator obtains a
federal source operating permit or revisions to a federal operating permit
if the changes are de minimis under Section 382.05101 or the operator has
obtained a preconstruction permit or permit amendment required by Section
382.0518 or an exemption allowed under Section 382.057. Deletes text
regarding a certain date of issuance of a permit and rulemaking.
SECTION 5. Amends Chapter 382C, Health and Safety Code, by adding Sections
382.05181 and 382.05182, as follows:
Sec. 382.05181. STANDARD PERMIT. Authorizes the commission to issue a
standard permit for similar facilities if the commission finds that certain
actions can be taken. Requires the commission to publish notice in certain
publications in the state designated by the commissions by rule. Authorizes
the commission, by rule, to require additional notice to be given. Requires
the notice to include an invitation for written comments by the public to
the commission regarding the proposed standard permit and to be published
not later than a certain date. Requires the commission to hold a public
meeting to provide an additional opportunity for public comment. Requires
the commission to give notice described in Subsection (b) not later than a
certain date before the date of the meeting. Requires the commission to
issue a written response to comments on the permit at the same time that
the commission issues or denies the permit, if the commission receives
public comment relating to issuance of a standard permit. Requires the
commission to establish the procedures for application and approval for the
use of a standard permit. Provides that the issuance, amendment, or
revocation of a standard permit by the commission is not subject to Chapter
2001, Government Code. Authorizes the commission to adopt rules as
necessary to implement and administer this section and to delegate to the
executive director under Section 382.061 the authority to issue, amend, or
revoke a standard permit.
Sec. 382.05182. PERMITS BY RULE. Authorizes the commission to adopt
permits, by rule, for certain types of facilities if it is found on
investigation that such types facilities will not make a significant
contribution of air contaminants to the atmosphere. Prohibits the
commission from adopting a permit, by rule, authorizing any facility
defined as "major" under the federal Clean Air Act or regulations adopted
under that Act. Provides that nothing in this subsection shall be
construed to limit the commission's general power to control the state's
air quality under Section 382.011(a). Requires the commission to adopt
rules specifically defining the terms and conditions for a permit by rule
under this section in a nonattainment area as defined by Title I of the
federal Clean Air Act.
SECTION 6. Amends Chapter 382C, Health and Safety Code, by adding Sections
382.0519, 382.05191, 382.05192, and 382.05193, as follows:
Sec. 382.0519. VOLUNTARY EMISSION REDUCTION PERMIT. Authorizes the owner or
operator of an existing, unpermitted facility not subject to the
requirement to obtain a permit under Section 382.0518(g) to apply for a
permit to operate that facility under this section. Requires the commission
to grant within a reasonable time a permit under this section if, from the
information available to the commission, including information presented at
any public hearing or through written comment, the commission finds that
the facility will use an air pollution control method at least as
beneficial as that described in Section 382.003(9)(E)(ii), considering the
age and remaining useful life of the facility. Prohibits the commission
from granting the permit under this section, if the commission finds that
the emissions from the facility will contravene the standards under
Subsection (b), or that there is an indication that the emissions from the
facility will contravene the intent of this chapter, including protection
of the public's health and physical property. Requires the person planning
the modification to comply with Section 382.0518, before work is begun on
the modification of a facility previously permitted under this section.
Sec. 382.05191. VOLUNTARY EMISSION REDUCTION PERMIT: NOTICE AND HEARING.
Requires an applicant for a permit under Section 382.0519 to publish notice
of intent to obtain the permit in accordance with Section 382.056.
Authorizes the commission to authorize an applicant for a permit for a
facility which constitutes or is part of a small business stationary source
as defined in Section 382.0365(g)(2) to provide notice using an alternative
means if the commission finds that the proposed method will result in equal
or better communication with the public, considering the effectiveness of
the notice in reaching potentially affected persons, cost, and consistency
with federal requirements. Authorizes the commission to afford an
opportunity for a public hearing and the submission of public comment and
send notice of a decision on an applicant for a permit under Section
382.0519 in the same manner as provided by Section 382.0561 and 382.0562.
Provides that a person affected by a decision of the commission to issue
or deny a voluntary emission reduction may move for rehearing and is
entitled to judicial review under Section 382.032.
Sec. 382.05192. VOLUNTARY EMISSION REDUCTION PERMITS: REVIEW AND RENEWAL.
Requires review and renewal of permits issued under Section 382.0519 to be
conducted in accordance with Section 382.055.
Sec. 382.05193. MULTIPLE PLANT PERMIT. Authorizes the commission to issue a
multiple plant permit for multiple existing facilities owned or operated by
the same person if the commission finds certain actions have been taken.
Requires a permit issued under this section to provide that the emissions
from any of the facilities authorized under the permit shall not exceed
that facility's highest historic annual rate. Requires the best engineering
judgment to be used to demonstrate the facility's highest historic annual
rate to the commission, in the absence of records extending back to the
original construction of the facility. Prohibits emissions control
equipment previously installed at a facility permitted under this section
from being removed or disabled unless the action is undertaken to maintain
or upgrade the control equipment.
SECTION 7. Amends Section 382.057(a), Health and Safety Code, to delete
text regarding facilities.
SECTION 8. Amends Section 382.058, Health and Safety Code, as follows:
Sec. 382.058. New heading: LIMITATION ON COMMISSION PERMITS BY RULE OR
STANDARD PERMITS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN CONCRETE PLANTS. Prohibits a
person from beginning construction on any concrete plant that performs wet
batching, or central mixing under a standard permit under Section 382.05181
or a permit by rule, rather than an exemption, adopted by the commission
under Section 382.05182, rather than Section 382.057, unless the person has
complied with the notice and opportunity for hearing provisions under
Section 382.056.
SECTION 9. Amends Section 382.062(b), Health and Safety Code, to authorize
the commission to adopt rules relating to charging and collecting a fee for
an exemption for a permit, by rule, or for a standard permit and for a
variance. Makes a conforming change.
SECTION 10. Authorizes the commission to adopt as soon as practicable after
the effective date of this Act, any rules necessary to implement the
changes in law made by this Act.
SECTION 11. Requires the commission to prepare and distribute to the
governor, lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,
the chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources, and the chairman
of the House Committee on Environmental Regulations a report on the number
of companies that have obtained or applied for a a permit under Section
382.0519, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, and the reductions
in emissions anticipated to result from issuance of such permits not later
than a January 15, 2001,.
SECTION 12. Emergency clause.
Effective date: upon passage.