78R11822 JJT-D


By:  Smith of Harris, Eiland, et al.                              H.B. No. 2554



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the application of new requirements for commercial 
nonhazardous industrial solid waste landfill facilities to be 
adopted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  As soon as practicable after the effective date 
of this Act, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality shall 
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) The Texas Commission on Environmental 
Quality shall 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)  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality shall 
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)  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality may 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.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.