79R4985 SMH-D

By:  Talton                                                       H.B. No. 2455



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the elements of the criminal offense of discharging 
used oil into water in the state.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 7.147(a), Water Code, is amended to read 
as follows:     
	(a)  A person commits an offense if the person discharges or 
allows the discharge of any waste or pollutant into any water in the 
state that causes or threatens to cause water pollution unless the 
waste or pollutant:
		(1)  is discharged in strict compliance with all 
required permits or with a valid and currently effective order 
issued or rule adopted by the appropriate regulatory agency; or
		(2)  consists of used oil and the concentration of used 
oil in the waste stream resulting from the discharge as it enters 
water in the state is less than 15 parts per million following the 
discharge.
	SECTION 2.  Section 7.176(a), Water Code, is amended to read 
as follows:     
	(a)  A person commits an offense if the person:                                
		(1)  intentionally discharges used oil into a sewer, 
drainage system, septic tank, surface water or groundwater, 
watercourse, or marine water unless the concentration of used oil 
in the waste stream resulting from the discharge as it enters water 
in the state is less than 15 parts per million following the 
discharge;
		(2)  knowingly mixes or commingles used oil with solid 
waste that is to be disposed of in landfills or directly disposes of 
used oil on land or in landfills, unless the mixing or commingling 
of used oil with solid waste that is to be disposed of in landfills 
is incident to and the unavoidable result of the mechanical 
shredding of motor vehicles, appliances, or other items of scrap, 
used, or obsolete metals;
		(3)  knowingly transports, treats, stores, disposes 
of, recycles, causes to be transported, or otherwise handles any 
used oil within the state:
			(A)  in violation of standards or rules for the 
management of used oil; or 
			(B)  without first complying with the 
registration requirements of Chapter 371, Health and Safety Code, 
and rules adopted under that chapter;
		(4)  intentionally applies used oil to roads or land 
for dust suppression, weed abatement, or other similar uses that 
introduce used oil into the environment;
		(5)  violates an order of the commission to cease and 
desist an activity prohibited by this section or a rule applicable 
to a prohibited activity; or
		(6)  intentionally makes a false statement or 
representation in an application, label, manifest, record, report, 
permit, or other document filed, maintained, or used for purposes 
of program compliance.
	SECTION 3.  (a) The changes in law made by this Act apply 
only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this 
Act.  For purposes of this section, an offense is committed before 
the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurs 
before that date.
	(b)  An offense committed before the effective date of this 
Act is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, 
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.