SRC-TJG H.B. 2554 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2554 78R11822 JJT-DBy: Smith, Wayne (Williams) Natural Resources 5/21/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is currently developing rules regarding nonhazardous industrial solid waste facilities. H.B. 2554 requires TCEQ to adopt such rules as soon as practicable. In addition, H.B. 2554 requires a suspension by TCEQ of the permitting process for any pending applications for new commercial landfill facilities that propose tp accept nonhazardous industrial solid waste until rules are adopted. The rules, when complete, will apply to all permits pending on the effective date or filed on or after the effective date. TCEQ may allow applicants with pending permits to amend their applications to conform to the new rules adopted. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in SECTION 1 of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to adopt rules governing all aspects of the management and operation of a new commercial landfill facility that proposes to accept nonhazardous industrial solid waste for which a permit has not been issued on or before the effective date of this Act. SECTION 2. (a) Requires TCEQ to suspend the permitting process for any pending application for a permit for a new commercial landfill facility that proposes to accept nonhazardous industrial solid waste until the rules adopted under Section 1 of this Act take effect. (b) Requires TCEQ to provide that the rules adopted under Section 1 of this Act apply to every application for a permit for a new commercial landfill facility that proposes to accept nonhazardous industrial solid waste that is filed on or after the effective date of this Act and every application for a permit for a new commercial landfill facility that proposes to accept nonhazardous industrial solid waste that is pending on the effective date of this Act. (c) Authorizes TCEQ to allow an applicant who filed such an application that is pending on the effective date of this Act to amend the application to conform to the rules adopted under Section 1 of this Act. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.