Honorable Mike Jackson, Chair, Senate Committee on S/C on Agriculture & Coastal Resources
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1709 by Staples (Relating to the regulation of a poultry operation that does not use a liquid waste handling system.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would define a "liquid waste handling system" as one in which freshwater or wastewater is used for transporting and land applying waste. The bill would exempt poultry operations that do not use a liquid waste handling system from certain permitting requirements and in the designation of water quality protection zones. As a result, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) reports that dry litter poultry operations located in protection zones could obtain authorization under a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) general permit instead of an individual permit. Any costs to implement the provisions of the bill are expected to be absorbed using existing TCEQ staff and resources.
Local Government Impact
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.