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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to water quality permitting. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 26.0135(d), Water Code, is amended as |
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follows: |
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(d) As required [In the
appropriate year of the
cycle
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provided] by commission rules [adopted to
implement Section
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26.0285], each river authority shall submit a written summary |
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report to the commission, State Soil and Water Conservation Board, |
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and Parks and Wildlife Department on the water quality assessment |
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of the authority's watershed. The summary report must identify |
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concerns relating to the watershed or bodies of water, including an |
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identification of bodies of water with impaired or potentially |
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impaired uses, the cause and possible source of use impairment, and |
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recommended actions the commission may take to address those |
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concerns. The summary report must discuss the public benefits from |
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the water quality monitoring and assessment program, including |
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efforts to increase public input in activities related to water |
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quality and the effectiveness of targeted monitoring in assisting |
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the permitting process. A river authority shall submit a summary |
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report after the report has been approved by the basin steering |
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committee and coordinated with the public and the commission. A |
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river authority shall hold basin steering committee meetings and |
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shall invite users of water and wastewater permit holders in the |
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watershed who pay fees under Section 26.0291 to review the draft of |
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the work plans and summary report. A river authority shall inform |
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those parties of the availability and location of the summary |
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report for inspection and shall solicit input from those parties |
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concerning their satisfaction with or suggestions for modification |
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of the summary report for the watershed, the operation or |
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effectiveness of the watershed monitoring and assessment program |
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authorized by this section, and the adequacy, use, or equitable |
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apportionment of the program's costs and funds. A river authority |
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shall summarize all comments received from persons who pay fees |
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under Section 26.0291 and from steering committee members and shall |
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submit the report and the summaries to the governor, the lieutenant |
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governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives not later |
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than the 90th day after the date the river authority submits the |
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summary report to the commission and other agencies. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 26.0285 and 26.0405, Water Code, are |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |