S.B. 1378 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1378 By: Armbrister Natural Resources Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has jurisdiction over discharge into underground injection wells. S.B. 1378 establishes provisions that streamline permitting procedures for the disposal of brine from desalination operations under a Class I injection well. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in SECTION 1 (Section 27.021, Water Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS S.B. 1378 amends Chapter 27, Water Code by adding a provision to clarify that permits for disposal of brine from desalination operations may be issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) under a Class I injection well if the permit meets all statutory and regulatory requirements for the issuance of a permit for a Class I injection well. The bill establishes that the TCEQ shall provide for notice and comment and provides that an application for a permit under this section is not subject to hearing requirements under Chapter 2001, Government Code. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003