Honorable Geanie Morrison, Chair, House Committee on Environmental Regulation
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2460 by Wray (Relating to allowing certain counties to regulate the land application of certain sewage sludge.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would exempt from Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)'s regulatory purview the regulation of Class B sewage sludge in a county with no municipality contained entirely within its boundaries with a population greater than 40,000, is adjacent to two counties with a population over one million, and is located in Region C Regional Water Planning Area for purposes of the State Water Plan. For the exemption to apply, the commissioners court of the county would also have to establish regulations and procedures for the land application of sludge under provisions established by the bill. A county seeking delegation from TCEQ to regulate the land application of sludge would have to establish regulations and procedures to maintain the same level of environmental protection that TCEQ would require when regulating land application of sewage sludge. Such a county would also be required to enter into a memorandum of understanding with TCEQ no later than 60 days after the commissioners court has adopted an order for sewage sludge land application regulatory authority.
There are no significant fiscal implications expected for the TCEQ.
Local Government Impact
Because the bill would not have statewide impact on units of local government of the same type or class, no comment from this office is required by the rules of the House/Senate as to its probable fiscal implication on units of local government.