TX
Texas House Bill HB323

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas House Bill HB323

Voted on by House
 
Out of Senate Committee
 
Voted on by Senate
 
Governor Action
 
Bill Becomes Law
 

Caption

Relating to the establishment of a program for detecting and giving notice of an unauthorized discharge of industrial, municipal, or other waste into any water in the state.

Impact

The implementation of HB323 would directly influence the regulatory framework governing wastewater management in Texas. Facilities that are categorized as industrial users or publicly owned treatment works would have to adhere to stricter monitoring protocols. The TCEQ would be responsible for maintaining a comprehensive database of unauthorized discharges, enhancing its ability to analyze and respond to environmental issues. Such measures are expected to bolster overall water quality and promote adherence to environmental standards, reflecting a significant shift towards proactive environmental management practices in the state.

Summary

House Bill 323 aims to establish a robust program for detecting and notifying state authorities about unauthorized discharges of various types of waste, including industrial and municipal waste, into any water within Texas. This legislation mandates that owners or operators of facilities that could potentially discharge pollutants must maintain gas chromatographs or similar detection equipment, ensuring that they can promptly identify any such unauthorized discharges. The immediate notification of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is also a crucial component of the bill, which aims to enhance the state's reactive capacity in addressing environmental hazards stemming from these discharges.

Contention

While the bill presents a framework intended to improve environmental protections, it may face scrutiny from stakeholders concerned about the additional regulatory burden imposed on businesses. Critics may argue that the requirements for monitoring and immediate reporting could lead to increased operational costs and implications for industrial productivity. Additionally, opponents may express concerns about the practical implementation of these measures, including the adequacy of training provided to facility operators in maintaining detection equipment and the efficiency of the TCEQ's response protocols to reported incidents.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

TX SB6

Relating to the establishment of the Texas Energy Insurance Program and other funding mechanisms to support the construction and operation of electric generating facilities.

TX SB330

Relating to the resilience of the electric grid and certain municipalities.

TX HB4278

Relating to the establishment by the Railroad Commission of Texas of the orphaned well Bitcoin mining partnership program.

TX HB200

Relating to border protection and economic development services, programs, and other measures, including establishing educational programs and the border protection unit, in this state to address certain issues affecting the border region, including transnational and other criminal activity and public health threats.

TX HB80

Relating to border protection and economic development services, programs, and other measures, including establishing educational programs and the border protection unit, in this state to address certain issues affecting the border region, including transnational and other criminal activity and public health threats.

TX HB87

Relating to border protection and economic development services, programs, and other measures, including establishing educational programs and the border protection unit, in this state to address certain issues affecting the border region, including transnational and other criminal activity and public health threats.

TX HB4256

Relating to the establishment of a grant program to plug leaking water wells in certain counties.

TX SB983

Relating to information maintained by certain municipally owned utilities that provide electricity services and cable, Internet, or broadband services.

TX SB2441

Relating to the transfer of functions relating to the economic regulation of water and sewer service from the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Office of Public Utility Counsel to the Water Public Utility Commission and the Office of Water Public Utility Counsel; creating a criminal offense.

TX HB1412

Relating to the resilience of the electric grid and certain municipalities; authorizing an administrative penalty.

Similar Bills

CA SB31

Water quality: recycled water.

AL SB264

Solid waste; to define the terms mass balance attribution, mill scale and slag

AL HB402

Solid waste; to define the term mass balance attribution, further provide for recovered materials processing facilities

AL SB131

Solid waste recycling, advanced recycling defined, conversion of materials back to basis hydrocarbons, not waste disposal or incineration, Sec. 22-27-2 am'd.

PA HB903

Prohibiting the employment of unauthorized employees; requiring meat packing and food preparation industry employers to verify the Social Security numbers of employees; imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.

PA HB905

Prohibiting the employment of unauthorized employees; requiring hotel and lodging industry employers to verify the Social Security numbers of employees; imposing duties on the Department of Labor and Industry; and imposing penalties.

AL HB460

To amend Section 22-27-2 of the Code of Alabama 1975, the Solid Waste and Recyclable Materials Management Act; to amend the definitions under the act; to define "advanced recycling" and to specify that advanced recycling would not be considered as solid waste disposal, solid waste processing, solid waste management, or incineration; and to define "mill scale and slag" and include the term in the definition of solid waste.

AL HB477

Solid waste recycling, advanced recycling defined, conversion of materials back to basis hydrocarbons, not waste disposal or incineration, Sec. 22-27-2 am'd.