| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to regulation of the management and disposal of certain |
|
|
drinking water treatment residuals through underground injection. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 401.412, Health and Safety Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Subsections (g) and (h) to read as follows: |
|
|
(g) The commission by rule shall provide for the expedited |
|
|
processing of applications for and the issuance of licenses |
|
|
required by this chapter for the management of residuals derived |
|
|
from the treatment of groundwater for drinking water purposes. |
|
|
(h) In exercising its authority under Subsection (g), the |
|
|
commission shall, where applicable, reciprocate recognition of |
|
|
similar licensing authorized to an applicant by other agencies of |
|
|
this state in an effort to create administrative efficiencies, |
|
|
avoid regulatory redundancies, and otherwise streamline the |
|
|
administrative requirements for obtaining any additional licensing |
|
|
that may be required under this chapter. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 27, Water Code, is amended |
|
|
by adding Section 27.026 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 27.026. USE OF BEDDED SALT FORMATIONS FOR DISPOSAL OF |
|
|
CERTAIN DRINKING WATER TREATMENT RESIDUALS. (a) The commission by |
|
|
rule shall provide for the expedited processing of applications for |
|
|
and issuance of permits required under this chapter for the |
|
|
disposal into a bedded salt formation of residuals derived from the |
|
|
treatment of groundwater for drinking water purposes. |
|
|
(b) In exercising its authority under Subsection (a), the |
|
|
commission shall work to create administrative efficiencies, avoid |
|
|
regulatory redundancies, where applicable, and otherwise |
|
|
streamline the administrative requirements for obtaining permits |
|
|
required by this chapter. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Section 27.073, Water Code, is amended by adding |
|
|
Subsection (e) to read as follows: |
|
|
(e) Persons to whom an injection well permit is issued under |
|
|
Section 27.026 for a well that is also permitted for injection |
|
|
disposal by the railroad commission may demonstrate financial |
|
|
responsibility to the commission upon demonstration that |
|
|
compatible financial security has already been issued in |
|
|
satisfaction of the railroad commission requirements adopted under |
|
|
this section. |
|
|
SECTION 4. As soon as possible after the effective date of |
|
|
this Act, the Department of State Health Services, the Texas |
|
|
Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Railroad Commission of |
|
|
Texas shall undertake all efforts necessary to efficiently |
|
|
implement this Act while providing for the preservation of |
|
|
groundwater quality and otherwise ensuring all necessary |
|
|
protections of the public health and safety. |
|
|
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |