| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the fees imposed by the Texas Commission on |
|
|
Environmental Quality in connection with plans that are subject to |
|
|
review and approval under the commission's rules for the protection |
|
|
of the Edwards Aquifer. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 26.0461, Water Code, is amended by |
|
|
amending Subsections (b), (d), (e), and (h) and adding Subsection |
|
|
(d-1) to read as follows: |
|
|
(b) The plans for which fees may be imposed are: |
|
|
(1) water pollution abatement plans; |
|
|
(2) plans for sewage collection systems; [and] |
|
|
(3) plans for hydrocarbon storage facilities or |
|
|
hazardous substance storage facilities; and |
|
|
(4) contributing zone plans. |
|
|
(d) Except as provided by Subsection (d-1), a [A] fee |
|
|
imposed under this section may not be less than $100 or more than |
|
|
$6,500 [$5,000]. |
|
|
(d-1) A fee imposed under this section may not be more than |
|
|
$13,000 if the fee is for a water pollution abatement or |
|
|
contributing zone plan for a development of more than 40 acres. |
|
|
(e) A fee charged under this section must be based on the |
|
|
following criteria: |
|
|
(1) if a pollution abatement or contributing zone |
|
|
plan, the area or acreage covered by the plan; |
|
|
(2) if a sewage collection systems plan, the number of |
|
|
linear feet of pipe or line; [and] |
|
|
(3) if a hydrocarbon storage facility or hazardous |
|
|
substance storage facility plan, the number of tanks; and |
|
|
(4) the type of activity subject to regulation. |
|
|
(h) A fee collected under this section shall be deposited in |
|
|
the State Treasury to the credit of a special program to be used |
|
|
only for administering the commission's Edwards Aquifer program, |
|
|
including: |
|
|
(1) monitoring surface water, stormwater, and |
|
|
groundwater quality in the Edwards Aquifer program area; and |
|
|
(2) developing geographic information systems (GIS) |
|
|
data layers for the Edwards Aquifer program [programs]. |
|
|
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
|
|
fees imposed in connection with plans filed with the Texas |
|
|
Commission on Environmental Quality on or after the effective date |
|
|
of this Act. Fees imposed in connection with plans filed with the |
|
|
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality before the effective date |
|
|
of this Act are governed by the law as it existed immediately before |
|
|
the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect |
|
|
for that purpose. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |