BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2070

By: Menéndez

Environmental Regulation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding a recent land application by a private company of processed grease trap waste or grit trap waste combined with sewage sludge as such application had a negative impact on adjacent landowners and could negatively impact the environment through groundwater runoff. S.B. 2070 seeks to address this issue by providing for a prohibition of the land application of grease or grit trap waste.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 2070 amends the Health and Safety Code to prohibit the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) from issuing a permit, registration, or other authorization for land application of grease trap waste or grit trap waste, including processed grease trap waste or grit trap waste, or sewer sludge mixed with grease trap waste or grit trap waste. The bill exempts the following from such prohibition:

· the disposal of grease trap waste or grit trap waste at a municipal solid waste Type I landfill permitted by TCEQ;

· the processing of grease trap waste or grit trap waste at a municipal solid waste Type V compost facility permitted or registered by TCEQ; or

· land application of Grade 1 or Grade 2 compost generated at a Type V compost facility permitted to compost grease trap waste by TCEQ.

S.B. 2070 excludes from the term "land application unit," for purposes of the land application of Class B sludge, the placement of waste on a liner registered or permitted by TCEQ. The bill defines "grease trap waste," "grit trap," and "grit trap waste" for purposes of the bill's provisions. The bill provides for the expiration, on the bill's effective date, of a permit, registration, or other authorization issued by TCEQ that allows the land application of grease trap waste or grit trap waste and establishes that the remainder of a permit, registration, or other authorization that contains items in addition to an authorization allowing the land application of grease trap waste or grit trap waste remains in effect to the extent that it does not authorize the land application of grease trap waste or grit trap waste. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.