LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 9, 2007

TO:	Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB1281 by Van de Putte (Relating to certain permit requirements concerning solid waste facilities, including recycling facilities, that are located on the recharge or transition zone of a sole source aquifer.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would require entities to seek permits from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for recycling and other municipal solid waste facilities located on the recharge or transition zone of a sole source aquifer. Such entities would be required to install items such as liners and monitoring wells at waste facilities and require fire lanes at recycling facilities.

Any costs to the TCEQ associated with implementing the provisions of the bill are expected to be reasonably absorbed within the agency's existing budget.

Local Government Impact

Passage of the bill could result in increased costs to local governments operating solid waste or recycling facilities in a recharge or transition zone of a sole source aquifer. Costs would depend on the area the TCEQ would define as being in a recharge or transition zone; the number of waste and recycling facilties operated in such recharge or transition zones, and whether the local entity had already provided for items such as well monitoring and fire lanes.

Source Agencies:

582 Commission on Environmental Quality

LBB Staff:

JOB, WK, TL