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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a restriction on permits authorizing discharges of |
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sewage effluent into any water in the contributing or recharge zone |
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of the San Antonio or Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 26, Water Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 26.0465 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 26.0465. RESTRICTION ON PERMITS FOR DISCHARGES OF |
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SEWAGE EFFLUENT INTO WATER IN CERTAIN ZONES OF EDWARDS AQUIFER. (a) |
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The commission may not: |
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(1) issue a new permit authorizing the discharge of |
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sewage effluent into any water in the contributing or recharge zone |
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of the San Antonio or Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer; |
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or |
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(2) amend a permit that was issued before September 1, |
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2017, to authorize an increase in the amount of sewage effluent that |
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may be discharged into any water in the contributing or recharge |
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zone of the San Antonio or Barton Springs segment of the Edwards |
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Aquifer. |
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(b) This section does not affect the authority of the |
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commission to issue a new permit authorizing one or more of the |
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following discharges or to amend a permit to authorize an increase |
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in one or more of the following discharges: |
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(1) a discharge of storm water runoff from: |
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(A) an industrial facility; |
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(B) a municipal storm sewer system that is |
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separate and distinct from the municipality's wastewater |
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collection system; or |
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(C) construction activity; |
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(2) a discharge from: |
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(A) firefighting activity; |
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(B) the flushing of a fire hydrant; |
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(C) a potable water source, including the |
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flushing of drinking fountain water or a water line; |
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(D) an air conditioner or compressor if the |
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discharge consists of uncontaminated condensate; |
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(E) lawn watering or similar irrigation work; |
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(F) pavement wash-down without the use of |
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detergents or other chemicals if a spill or leak of toxic or |
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hazardous material has not occurred or all spilled or leaked |
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material has been removed; |
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(G) a routine external building wash-down that |
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does not use detergents or other compounds; |
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(H) a foundation or footing drain if the |
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discharge is not contaminated with a solvent or other process |
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material; or |
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(I) the spray-down of a lumber or wood product |
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storage yard if chemical additives are not used in the spray-down |
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water and chemicals are not applied to the lumber or wood products |
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during storage; |
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(3) a discharge of uncontaminated groundwater or |
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spring water; or |
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(4) a discharge of storm water or groundwater seepage |
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from mine dewatering activity at a construction, sand and gravel, |
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industrial sand, or crushed stone mining facility. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |