Relating to a manifest system to record the transportation of certain liquid wastes.
Impact
If enacted, SB213 would significantly impact state laws related to waste management and environmental protection. The introduction of a standardized manifest system aims to streamline tracking processes and promote best practices in waste disposal. Additionally, the bill mandates that records relating to waste transport must be retained for a minimum of three years, fostering a culture of compliance and responsibility among waste management stakeholders. This legislative measure is positioned to bolster oversight and regulation of hazardous waste activities, potentially reducing illegal dumping and other unsafe disposal methods.
Summary
Senate Bill 213, proposed by Senator Shapleigh, aims to establish a manifest system for tracking the transportation of specific types of liquid wastes, including municipal sewage sludge, grit trap waste, and grease trap waste. The bill mandates that any entity involved in the generation, transportation, or disposal of these waste types must maintain detailed records and utilize a sequentially numbered transportation manifest issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). This requirement seeks to ensure that these wastes are only transported to authorized facilities, thereby enhancing the accountability in waste management practices within the state.
Contention
While the bill has been introduced with the intent of strengthening waste management systems, it may also provoke discussions about the potential increased administrative burdens placed on waste generators and transporters. Critics may argue that such regulations could impose additional costs and operational challenges on smaller waste management companies. Furthermore, there might be concerns regarding the practicality of enforcement, especially in rural areas where waste disposal facilities may be limited. Balancing regulatory compliance with operational feasibility will likely be a focal point of debates surrounding SB213.
Relating to authorizing the possession, use, cultivation, distribution, transportation, and delivery of medical cannabis for medical use by qualifying patients with certain debilitating medical conditions and the licensing of dispensing organizations and cannabis testing facilities; authorizing fees.
Relating to an excise tax on, and storage, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements for, certain nontobacco nicotine products; providing a civil penalty; imposing a tax.