SRC-SEW S.B. 1338 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1338
77R9231 SMH-DBy: Ogden
Natural Resources
3/26/2001
Committee Report (Amended)


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.  As proposed, 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.  

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Amends As Filed S.B. 1338, Section 401.415, Health and Safety Code, to
replace the text "require the owner or operator of oil and gas equipment
to" with "require the owner or operator of oil and gas equipment used in
exploration, production, or disposal to."  Replaces the text "notify the
railroad commission regarding any equipment" with "identify any equipment."
Omits "waste" in Subsection (a)(2)(B).