83R9830 JRR-F
By: King of Zavala H.B. No. 2996
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to regulation by the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality of the land application of Class B sludge.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Section 361.121, Health and
Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 361.121. LAND APPLICATION OF CERTAIN SLUDGE;
REGISTRATION [PERMIT] REQUIRED.
SECTION 2. Section 361.121(a)(1), Health and Safety Code,
is amended to read as follows:
(1) "Class B sludge" is sewage sludge, including
sludge combined and processed with grease trap waste, grit trap
waste, or septage within the boundaries of a wastewater treatment
facility, that meets one of the pathogen reduction requirements of
30 T.A.C. 312.82(b).
SECTION 3. Sections 361.121(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g),
(h), (j), (k), (l), (n), and (o), Health and Safety Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(b) A [Except as provided by Subsection (m), a] responsible
person may not apply Class B sludge on a land application unit
unless the responsible person has obtained a registration
certificate [permit] for that land application unit issued by the
commission under this section [on or after September 1, 2003].
(c) The notice and hearing provisions of Subchapter M,
Chapter 5, Water Code, do not [as added by Chapter 1350, Acts of the
76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999,] apply to an application
under this section for registration or for an [a permit, a permit]
amendment[,] or [a permit] renewal of registration. [In addition,
at the time published notice of intent to obtain a permit is
required under Section 5.552, Water Code, an applicant for a
permit, permit amendment, or permit renewal under this section must
notify by registered or certified mail each owner of land located
within one-quarter mile of the proposed land application unit who
lives on that land of the intent to obtain the permit, amendment, or
renewal. Notice to landowners must include the information
required by Section 5.552(c), Water Code, and information regarding
the anticipated date of the first application of the sludge to the
proposed land application unit. An owner of land located within
one-quarter mile of the proposed land application unit who lives on
that land is an affected person for purposes of Section 5.115, Water
Code.]
(d) In each registration certificate [permit], the
commission shall prescribe the conditions under which it is issued,
including:
(1) the duration of the registration [permit];
(2) the location of the land application unit;
(3) the maximum quantity of Class B sludge that may be
applied or disposed of under the registration [permit];
(4) a requirement that the registration certificate
[permit] holder submit quarterly to the commission a
computer-generated report that includes, at a minimum, information
regarding:
(A) the source, quality, and quantity of sludge
applied to the land application unit;
(B) the location of the land application unit,
either in terms of longitude and latitude or by physical address,
including the county;
(C) the date of delivery of Class B sludge;
(D) the date of application of Class B sludge;
(E) the cumulative amount of metals applied to
the land application unit through the application of Class B
sludge;
(F) crops grown at the land application unit
site; and
(G) the suggested agronomic application rate for
the Class B sludge;
(5) a requirement that the registration certificate
[permit] holder submit annually to the commission evidence that the
[permit] holder is complying with the nutrient management plan and
the practice standards described by Subsection (h)(4);
(6) a requirement that the registration certificate
[permit] holder post a sign that is visible from a road or sidewalk
that is adjacent to the premises on which the land application unit
is located stating that a beneficial application site is located on
the premises;
(7) any other monitoring and reporting requirements
prescribed by the commission for the registration certificate
[permit] holder; and
(8) a requirement that the registration certificate
[permit] holder must report to the commission any noncompliance by
the [permit] holder with the registration [permit] conditions or
applicable commission rules.
(e) A registration [permit] does not become a vested right
in the registration certificate [permit] holder.
(f) A registration certificate [permit] may be issued under
this section for a term set by the board not to exceed six years from
the date of issuance.
(g) The commission shall charge a fee for the issuance of a
registration certificate [permit] under this section in an amount
not less than $1,000 and not more than $5,000. In determining the
fee under this subsection, the commission shall consider the amount
of sludge to be applied under the registration [permit].
(h) The commission by rule shall require an applicant for
registration [a permit] under this section to submit with the
application, at a minimum:
(1) information regarding:
(A) the applicant;
(B) the source, quality, and quantity of sludge
to be applied; and
(C) the hydrologic characteristics of the
surface water and groundwater at and within one-quarter of a mile of
the land application unit;
(2) proof evidencing that the applicant has a
commercial liability insurance policy that:
(A) is issued by an insurance company authorized
to do business in this state that has a rating by the A. M. Best
Company of A- or better;
(B) designates the commission as an additional
insured; and
(C) is in an amount of not less than $3 million;
(3) proof evidencing that the applicant has an
environmental impairment insurance policy or similar insurance
policy that:
(A) is issued by an insurance company authorized
to do business in this state that has a rating by the A. M. Best
Company of A- or better;
(B) designates the commission as an additional
insured; and
(C) is in an amount of not less than $3 million;
and
(4) proof that the applicant has minimized the risk of
water quality impairment caused by nitrogen applied to the land
application unit through the application of Class B sludge by
having had a nutrient management plan prepared by a certified
nutrient management specialist in accordance with the practice
standards of the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the
United States Department of Agriculture.
(j) A registration certificate [permit] holder must
maintain an insurance policy required by Subsection (h) in effect
for the duration of the registration [permit].
(k) The commission shall create and operate a tracking
system for the land application of Class B sludge. The commission
shall require a registration certificate [permit] holder to report
deliveries and applications of Class B sludge using the tracking
system and shall post the reported information on its website. The
tracking system must allow a registration certificate [permit]
holder to report electronically:
(1) the date of delivery of Class B sludge to a land
application unit; and
(2) for each application of Class B sludge to a land
application unit:
(A) the date of the application; and
(B) the source, quality, and quantity of the
sludge applied.
(l) A registration certificate [permit] holder may not
accept Class B sludge unless the sludge has been transported to the
land application unit in a covered container with the covering
firmly secured at the front and back.
(n) The insurance requirements under Subsections (h)(2) and
(3) do not apply to an applicant that is:
(1) a political subdivision; or
(2) a small business, as defined by Section 2006.001,
Government Code, that owns the land application unit.
(o) The commission may not issue a registration certificate
[permit] under this section for a land application unit that is
located both:
(1) in a county that borders the Gulf of Mexico; and
(2) 500 feet or less from any water well or surface
water.
SECTION 4. Section 361.121(m), Health and Safety Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 5. (a) The changes in law made by this Act apply
only to an application to apply Class B sludge to a land application
unit that is:
(1) filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality on or after the effective date of this Act; or
(2) filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality before the effective date of this Act but not found to be
administratively complete before that date.
(b) A person who holds a permit for the application of Class
B sludge approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
before the effective date of this Act may apply Class B sludge in
accordance with the terms of the permit.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.