Honorable Lyle Larson, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB817 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 fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Water Code prohibiting the Texas Commission on Environment Quality from approving or amending certain permits authorizing the direct discharge of waste or pollutants into water in certain areas of the Edwards Aquifer.
According to the Commission on Environmental Quality, no fiscal impact to the agency is anticipated.
Local Government Impact
According to the Commission on Environmental Quality, the bill could impact local and other governmental entities providing wastewater treatment services to citizens in the region by limiting options for wastewater disposal. Currently, there are no TCEQ wastewater discharge permits issued or that are pending in areas specified in the bill nor in the area that drains to this portion of the contributing zone. Any wastewater generated from a new facility will have to be disposed of via land application or routed to another watershed for discharge. Existing entities that land apply wastewater would no longer have the option of discharging wastewater.
According to the Texas Association of Counties, no fiscal impact to counties is anticipated.
According to the Edwards Aquifer Authority, no fiscal impact to the authority is anticipated.