Honorable Allan Ritter, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1508 by Bolton (Relating to a restriction on permits authorizing direct discharges of waste or pollutants into water in certain areas associated with the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would prohibit the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) from issuing a new permit authorizing the discharge of waste or pollutants or amend a permit that was issued before September 1, 2009 to authorize an increase in the discharge of waste or pollutants to waters in the contributing or recharge zone of the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer. It also specifically states that the bill would affect the TCEQ’s authority to authorize discharges of storm and certain non-storm water discharges.
Any additional rulemaking and other administrative activities resulting from the bill's passage are not expected to result in the need for significant addtional resources by the TCEQ.
Local Government Impact
Currently, there is only one proposed Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (discharge to surface waters) permit that is located in the contributing or recharge zones of Blanco, Hays, and Travis counties. The bill could impact local governmental entities providing wastewater treatment services or other discharges of waste or pollutants into waters in the affected area; however, the costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill are not anticipated to be significant.