Honorable Joseph Pickett, Chair, House Committee on Environmental Regulation
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3036 by King, Tracy O. (Relating to a restriction on permits authorizing direct discharges of waste or pollutants into water in certain areas of the Edwards Aquifer.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Water Code prohibiting the Texas Commission on Environment Quality (TCEQ) from approving a new permit authorizing the direct discharge of waste or pollutants into any water in the contributing zone of the Edwards Aquifer that is southwest of the Colorado River. The bill would prohibit TCEQ from amending a permit issued before September 1, 2017 to increase the amount of waste or pollutants.
The bill does not prohibit TCEQ from authorizing certain stormwater and non-stormwater discharges. The bill would take effect immediately if it receives two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
According to the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, no fiscal impact is anticipated.
According to the TCEQ, the bill could impact local and other governmental entities providing wastewater treatment services to citizens in the affected area. Currently, there are approximately 13 Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (discharge to surface waters) issued permits that are located in the contributing or recharge zones of Kinney, Uvalde, Medina, Bexar, Comal, Hays, and Travis counties, as well as two pending applications. New developments would be impacted as any new wastewater generated would have to be disposed of via land application in this area or routed to another watershed for discharge. Fiscal implications to local governmental entities cannot be estimated, however, the costs could be substantial.