SRC-PNG C.S.S.B. 1300 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1300
76R10978 MXM-FBy: Brown
Natural Resources
4/8/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

A number of older residential subdivisions in Harris County were developed
with lots insufficient in size to accommodate individual water and
wastewater disposal facilities.  These subdivisions are mostly in areas
where septic systems are not feasible and a public sewer is unavailable.
Households within these subdivisions are currently discharging their
untreated sewage into roadside ditches or culverts, causing a public health
hazard to the community.  This bill would allow a county with a population
of 2.8 million or more to permit the use of certain sewage treatment and
disposal systems. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 1300 allows a county with a population of 2.8 million
or more to permit the use of certain sewage treatment and disposal systems. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 26B, Water Code, by adding Section 26.0405, as
follows: 

Sec.  26.0405.  GENERAL PERMITS FOR CERTAIN SEWAGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL
SYSTEMS.  Requires the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
(TNRCC) to issue one or more general permits for the discharge of treated
sewage into or adjacent to water in this state by certain sewage treatment
and disposal systems, to the extent not in conflict with state water
quality standards or federal law.  Provides that a person who discharges
under a permit issued under this section is not required to hold a
certificate of competency issued under Section 26.0301.  Requires TNRCC to
specify the design, operation, and maintenance requirements and establish
the primary and secondary treatment requirements for each system, for a
permit issued under this section.  Provides that a system for which a
permit is issued under this section is subject to design criteria
established under Chapter 366, Health and Safety Code, and is not subject
to design criteria established under Section 26.034. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
Effective date: upon passage.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Relating clause.

Amends the relating clause to state that the bill relates to the permitting
of discharges from certain sewage treatment and disposal systems in certain
counties, rather than permitting discharges from on-site sewage disposal
systems. 

SECTION 1.

Amends Chapter 26B, Water Code, by adding Section 26.0405 concerning
general permits for certain sewage treatment and disposal systems.  Deletes
proposed SECTION 1.