LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION March 10, 2009 TO: Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB800 by Williams (Relating to a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality water quality protection area pilot program applicable to portions of the San Jacinto River; providing penalties.), As Introduced No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated. The bill would establish a pilot program for sand and gravel quarry operations in portions of the East Fork and West Fork of the San Jacinto River and Spring Creek. The pilot program would address permitting, financial responsibility, inspections, water quality sampling, enforcement, cost recovery, and interagency cooperation with regard to sand and gravel quarries. To detect potential violations, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife (TDPW) would be required to coordinate efforts to conduct visual inspections of the water quality protection area established by the bill and analyses of surface water samples from the San Jacinto River and its tributaries. The visual inspections and analyses of water samples would be conducted at least twice annually, and at least once per year an inspection of the San Jacinto water quality protection area from an aircraft flying over the area would be required. In addition, the bill would require the TCEQ to submit a biennial report to the Legislature. Although the bill would result in costs to both the TCEQ and the TDPW in conucting analyses, sampling, sampling, inspections, and preparing the report, such costs are not expected to be significant to either agency's budget. Local Government Impact No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies:582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department LBB Staff: JOB, WK, TL, TP
LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
March 10, 2009
TO: Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE:SB800 by Williams (Relating to a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality water quality protection area pilot program applicable to portions of the San Jacinto River; providing penalties.), As Introduced
TO: Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
FROM: John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE: SB800 by Williams (Relating to a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality water quality protection area pilot program applicable to portions of the San Jacinto River; providing penalties.), As Introduced
Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
SB800 by Williams (Relating to a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality water quality protection area pilot program applicable to portions of the San Jacinto River; providing penalties.), As Introduced
SB800 by Williams (Relating to a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality water quality protection area pilot program applicable to portions of the San Jacinto River; providing penalties.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would establish a pilot program for sand and gravel quarry operations in portions of the East Fork and West Fork of the San Jacinto River and Spring Creek. The pilot program would address permitting, financial responsibility, inspections, water quality sampling, enforcement, cost recovery, and interagency cooperation with regard to sand and gravel quarries. To detect potential violations, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife (TDPW) would be required to coordinate efforts to conduct visual inspections of the water quality protection area established by the bill and analyses of surface water samples from the San Jacinto River and its tributaries. The visual inspections and analyses of water samples would be conducted at least twice annually, and at least once per year an inspection of the San Jacinto water quality protection area from an aircraft flying over the area would be required. In addition, the bill would require the TCEQ to submit a biennial report to the Legislature. Although the bill would result in costs to both the TCEQ and the TDPW in conucting analyses, sampling, sampling, inspections, and preparing the report, such costs are not expected to be significant to either agency's budget.
The bill would establish a pilot program for sand and gravel quarry operations in portions of the East Fork and West Fork of the San Jacinto River and Spring Creek. The pilot program would address permitting, financial responsibility, inspections, water quality sampling, enforcement, cost recovery, and interagency cooperation with regard to sand and gravel quarries. To detect potential violations, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife (TDPW) would be required to coordinate efforts to conduct visual inspections of the water quality protection area established by the bill and analyses of surface water samples from the San Jacinto River and its tributaries. The visual inspections and analyses of water samples would be conducted at least twice annually, and at least once per year an inspection of the San Jacinto water quality protection area from an aircraft flying over the area would be required. In addition, the bill would require the TCEQ to submit a biennial report to the Legislature.
Although the bill would result in costs to both the TCEQ and the TDPW in conucting analyses, sampling, sampling, inspections, and preparing the report, such costs are not expected to be significant to either agency's budget.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies: 582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department
582 Commission on Environmental Quality, 802 Parks and Wildlife Department
LBB Staff: JOB, WK, TL, TP
JOB, WK, TL, TP