SRC-MKV S.B. 1599 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1599 77R9388 SMH-DBy: Wentworth Natural Resources 4/2/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE In 1999 a driver backed a car into a gasoline dispenser at a service station in the unincorporated portion of northern Bexar County, breaking the gasoline supply pipe below the ground. As a result, about 900 gallons of gasoline were spilled into the Trinity Aquifer causing twenty-two sole-source drinking water wells to be contaminated with Benzene and MTBE. Current law does not adequately protect aquifers which are an important source of drinking water for populous counties which are dependent on groundwater. The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) has special rules for tanks located above the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, but no other aquifers in the state receive increased protection under TNRCC rules. As proposed, S.B. 1599 requires TNRCC to apply increased containment standards for underground petroleum storage tanks located over an aquifer recharge zone in a county with a population of at least one million that relies on groundwater for at least 75 percent of the county's water supply. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 26I, Water Code, by adding Section 26.3476, as follows: Sec. 26.3476. SECONDARY CONTAINMENT REQUIRED FOR TANKS LOCATED OVER CERTAIN AQUIFERS. (a) Defines "secondary containment." (b) Requires an underground storage tank system to incorporate a method for secondary containment if the system is located in the recharge zone of an aquifer and in a county that has a population of at least one million and relies on groundwater for at least 75 percent of the county's water supply. (c) Provides that Section 26.3475(e) applies to an underground storage tank system that is subject to this section as if a violation of this section were a violation of Section 26.3475. SECTION2. (a) Effective date: September 1, 2001. (b) Makes application of this Act prospective.