Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB978 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		By: Hughes S.B. No. 978
	2	+	(In the Senate - Filed February 21, 2019; March 1, 2019,
	3	+	read first time and referred to Committee on Water & Rural Affairs;
	4	+	May 14, 2019, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
	5	+	Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 14, 2019,
	6	+	sent to printer.)
	7	+	Click here to see the committee vote
	8	+	COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 978 By: Kolkhorst
2	9
3	10
4	11		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
5	12		AN ACT
6	13		relating to a study of the conversion of surface mine pits and
7	14		quarries to water storage reservoirs in order to enhance this
8	15		state's available water supply.
9	16		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	17		SECTION 1. (a) The legislature shall establish a joint
11	18		interim committee to study the conversion of surface mine pits and
12	19		quarries to water storage reservoirs in order to enhance this
13	20		state's available water supply.
14	21		(b) The joint interim committee is composed of:
15	22		(1) members of the Senate Natural Resources and
16	23		Economic Development Committee appointed by the lieutenant
17	24		governor;
18	25		(2) members of the Senate Water and Rural Affairs
19	26		Committee appointed by the lieutenant governor;
20	27		(3) members of the House Natural Resources Committee
21	28		appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and
22	29		(4) members of the House Energy Resources Committee
23	30		appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
24	31		(c) The lieutenant governor or the speaker of the house of
25	32		representatives, as applicable, may not appoint more than three
26	33		members from a committee described by Subsection (b) of this
27	34		section to the joint interim committee.
28	35		(d) The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of
29	36		representatives shall jointly designate a chair or, alternatively,
30	37		designate two co-chairs from among the committee membership.
31	38		(e) The committee may adopt rules necessary to carry out the
32	39		committee's duties under this section.
33	40		(f) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the
34	41		Railroad Commission of Texas, and the Texas Water Development Board
35	42		shall provide administrative support and resources to the
36	43		committee.
37	44		(g) Not later than December 1, 2020, the committee shall
38	45		prepare and deliver a report to the governor and the legislature
39	46		that:
40	47		(1) provides an overview of:
41	48		(A) the lignite industry in this state and final
42	49		reclamation practices of that industry; and
43	50		(B) large sand and gravel producers in this
44	51		state;
45	52		(2) identifies surface mine pits and quarries that
46	53		could potentially be used as water storage reservoirs and provides
47	54		the following information for each location:
48	55		(A) the volume of water that could be stored at
49	56		the location;
50	57		(B) the predicted water quality of a reservoir
51	58		created at the location;
52	59		(C) the predicted effect on watersheds
53	60		surrounding a reservoir created at the location;
54	61		(D) the sustainability of a reservoir created at
55	62		the location;
56	63		(E) the reclamation status of the location;
57	64		(F) information needed to assess ownership
58	65		issues at the location, including any constraint that the ownership
59	66		of the property may impose on the use of the property as a
60	67		reservoir;
61	68		(G) a comparison of the estimated cost of
62	69		converting the location into a reservoir and the estimated cost of
63	70		filling in and regrading the location to the approximate original
64	71		contour; and
65	72		(H) the economic impact on communities near the
66	73		location, including how revenue from the sale of water stored at the
67	74		location could be used to promote economic development, trade or
68	75		vocational schools, and health care in those communities;
69	76		(3) contains a map of the locations identified under
70	77		Subdivision (2) of this subsection;
71	78		(4) provides a review of the regulatory issues and
72	79		constraints associated with converting surface mine pits and
73	80		quarries into reservoirs;
74	81		(5) summarizes the effect that a statewide initiative
75	82		to convert surface mine pits and quarries into reservoirs would
76	83		have on state water resources; and
77	84		(6) considers setback requirements and other
78	85		restrictions on development to prevent shoreline development that
79	86		would interfere with necessary withdrawals of water from surface
80	87		mine pits and quarries that have been converted into reservoirs.
81	88		(h) The committee is abolished and this Act expires January
82	89		12, 2021.
83	90		SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
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