LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
April 3, 2001
TO: Honorable Warren Chisum, Chair, House Committee on
Environmental Regulation
FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: HB8 by Walker (Relating to regulation of radioactive
materials and other sources of radiation.), As Introduced
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* Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for *
* HB8, As Introduced: $0 through the biennium ending August 31, *
* 2003. *
* *
* The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal *
* basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of *
* the bill. *
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The table below reflects fiscal implications to the Texas Natural
Resource Conservation Commission for waste disposal.
All Funds, Five-Year Impact:
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*Fiscal Probable Probable Revenue Change in Number of *
* Year Savings/(Cost) from Gain/(Loss) from Low State Employees from *
* Low Level Waste Level Waste Account/ FY 2001 *
* Account/ GR-Dedicated *
* GR-Dedicated 0088 *
* 0088 *
* 2002 $(939,869) $939,869 7.0 *
* 2003 (883,869) 883,869 7.0 *
* 2004 (883,869) 883,869 7.0 *
* 2005 (883,869) 883,869 7.0 *
* 2006 (883,869) 883,869 7.0 *
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The table below reflects fiscal implications to the Department of Health
for assured isolation.
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*Fiscal Probable Probable Revenue Change in Number of *
* Year Savings/(Cost) from Gain/(Loss) from Low State Employees from *
* Low Level Waste Level Waste Account/ FY 2001 *
* Account/ GR-Dedicated *
* GR-Dedicated 0088 *
* 0088 *
* 2002 $(150,809) $150,809 2.0 *
* 2003 (530,472) 530,472 6.0 *
* 2004 (1,159,365) 1,159,365 10.0 *
* 2005 (1,142,196) 1,142,196 12.0 *
* 2006 (1,037,976) 1,037,976 12.0 *
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Technology Impact
The cost of acquiring personal computers and related software and
equipment for seven new positions ($21,000).
Fiscal Analysis
The bill would authorize the Texas Department of Health (TDH) to regulate
and license assured isolation facilities. The Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission (TNRCC) would be authorized to license and
regulate a low-level radioactive waste disposal site. Neither a
disposal site nor an assured isolation facility may be licensed in a
county located within sixty-two miles of the international boundary
between the state of Texas and Mexico, or a county in which the average
annual rainfall is greater than 26 inches.
Methodology
This estimate assumes that either disposal or assured isolation would
occur, but not both.
For purposes of this analysis, it is assumed that a license for a
low-level radioactive waste disposal facility is issued to a private
entity. Assuming disposal, additional recurring costs to the TNRCC of
implementing the provisions of this bill are an estimated $883,869 per
fiscal year, which includes seven additional full-time positions.
Assuming assured isolation, the estimated recurring costs to the Texas
Department of Health of implementing the provisions of this bill are
$1,037,976, which includes twelve additional full-time positions.
Because this bill authorizes TDH and TNRCC to license and regulate
different types of facilities, both of which can be used for disposal
purposes, the cost of implementing the provisions of this bill depends on
the approach selected.
It is assumed that a license with a private entity would be issued and a
site selected within a year. It is assumed that with consistent
financial qualification provisions of the bill, the licensed entity
would be financially responsible for any site acquisition,
decontamination, decommissioning, reclamation and disposal costs related
to the disposal site in the event the license is revoked.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated. The selected county would receive funding for local public
projects which would be valued at 10 percent of the annual gross
receipts from waste received at the site.
Source Agencies: 582 Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
LBB Staff: JK, CL, MF, ZS