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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 direct discharges |
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of waste or pollutants into water in certain areas of the Edwards |
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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 26.0462 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 26.0462. RESTRICTION ON PERMITS FOR DIRECT DISCHARGES |
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OF WASTE OR POLLUTANTS INTO WATER IN CERTAIN ZONES OF EDWARDS |
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AQUIFER. (a) The commission may not: |
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(1) issue a new permit authorizing the direct |
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discharge of waste or pollutants into any water in the contributing |
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zone associated with the portion of the recharge zone of the Edwards |
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Aquifer that is within the Nueces River basin; or |
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(2) amend a permit issued before September 1, 2019, to |
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authorize an increase in the amount of waste or pollutants that may |
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be directly discharged into any water described by Subdivision (1). |
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(b) This section does not affect the authority of the |
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commission to authorize stormwater and certain non-stormwater |
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discharges as specified in: |
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(1) the commission's individual permits for municipal |
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separate storm sewer systems; and |
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(2) the commission's general permits for stormwater |
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and associated non-stormwater discharges. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an application for a permit or permit amendment that is submitted |
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to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. An application for a permit or permit |
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amendment that was submitted to the Texas Commission on |
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Environmental Quality before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect at the time the application was filed, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |