SRC-SEW S.B. 1338 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 1338 By: Ogden Natural Resources 5/21/2001 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE The 76th Legislature, by rider in the General Appropriations Act, required the Railroad Commission of Texas to perform a study on the effectiveness of the existing state rules and regulations related to the detection, control, and disposal of oil and gas naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) waste and report the findings of the study to the governor and the legislature. This bill follows up on that study. S.B. 1338 authorizes the Railroad Commission to require the identification of oil and gas equipment that contains, or is contaminated with, NORM. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority expressly granted to the Railroad Commission of Texas is modified in SECTION 1 (Section 401.415, Health and Safety Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 401.415, Health and Safety Code, to authorize the Railroad Commission of Texas, notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, in order to protect public health and safety and the environment, to require the owner or operator of oil and gas equipment used in exploration, production, or disposal to perform certain functions regarding equipment contaminated with oil or gas NORM. Makes a conforming change. Deletes text regarding January 1, 1995. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.