1-1 By: Bosse (Senate Sponsor - Brown) H.B. No. 1574 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 19, 1999; 1-3 April 20, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Natural Resources; May 5, 1999, reported favorably by the following 1-5 vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 5, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the permitting of discharges from certain sewage 1-9 treatment and disposal systems in certain counties. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 26, Water Code, is amended 1-12 by adding Section 26.0405 to read as follows: 1-13 Sec. 26.0405. GENERAL PERMITS FOR CERTAIN SEWAGE TREATMENT 1-14 AND DISPOSAL SYSTEMS. (a) To the extent not in conflict with 1-15 state water quality standards or federal law, the commission shall 1-16 issue one or more general permits for the discharge of treated 1-17 sewage into or adjacent to water in this state by a sewage 1-18 treatment and disposal system if the system: 1-19 (1) produces not more than 5,000 gallons of waste each 1-20 day; 1-21 (2) is in a county with a population of 2.8 million 1-22 or more that is an authorized agent under Chapter 366, Health and 1-23 Safety Code, and that has: 1-24 (A) adopted a resolution under Section 7.352 1-25 that authorizes the county to exercise enforcement power under 1-26 Subchapter H, Chapter 7; and 1-27 (B) entered into an agreement with the 1-28 commission to inspect, investigate, and otherwise monitor 1-29 compliance with the permit; 1-30 (3) provides sewage treatment and disposal for a 1-31 single-family residence for which the commission determines a 1-32 connection to an existing or proposed area-wide or regional waste 1-33 collection, treatment, and disposal system is not feasible; and 1-34 (4) is on a property that: 1-35 (A) was subdivided and developed before January 1-36 1, 1979; and 1-37 (B) is of insufficient size to accommodate 1-38 on-site disposal of all wastewater in compliance with Chapter 366, 1-39 Health and Safety Code. 1-40 (b) A person who discharges under a permit issued under this 1-41 section is not required to hold a certificate of competency issued 1-42 under Section 26.0301. 1-43 (c) For a permit issued under this section, the commission 1-44 shall for each system: 1-45 (1) specify the design, operation, and maintenance 1-46 requirements; and 1-47 (2) establish the primary and secondary treatment 1-48 requirements. 1-49 (d) A system for which a permit is issued under this section 1-50 is subject to design criteria established under Chapter 366, Health 1-51 and Safety Code, and is not subject to design criteria established 1-52 under Section 26.034. 1-53 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-54 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-55 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-56 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-57 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-58 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-59 passage, and it is so enacted. 1-60 * * * * *