Texas 2021 - 87th 1st C.S.

Texas House Bill HB53 Compare Versions

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11 87S10188 JAM-F
22 By: Reynolds H.B. No. 53
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55 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
66 AN ACT
77 relating to the analysis of inspection and maintenance requirements
88 for air quality permits issued by the Texas Commission on
99 Environmental Quality for certain oil and gas facilities.
1010 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1111 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 382, Health and Safety
1212 Code, is amended by adding Section 382.051965 to read as follows:
1313 Sec. 382.051965. ANALYSIS OF INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
1414 REQUIREMENTS FOR OIL AND GAS FACILITIES. (a) This section applies
1515 only to a rule or requirement:
1616 (1) relating to a permit by rule or a standard permit
1717 for a facility described by Section 382.051961(a); and
1818 (2) that:
1919 (A) is a rule or requirement of the commission in
2020 effect on September 1, 2021; or
2121 (B) is a proposed or approved federal rule or
2222 requirement that may be implemented before March 31, 2022.
2323 (b) The commission shall examine rules and requirements
2424 described by Subsection (a) governing:
2525 (1) inspection and maintenance programs, including
2626 programs that use optical gas imaging, for the detection and repair
2727 of leaks from all valves, pump seals, flanges, compressor seals,
2828 pressure relief valves, open-ended lines, tanks, and other process
2929 and operation components of the facility that could result in
3030 fugitive emissions;
3131 (2) the use of venting and flaring;
3232 (3) emissions of volatile organic compounds from
3333 storage tanks that have the potential to emit more than one ton of
3434 volatile organic compounds per year;
3535 (4) emissions of nitrogen oxides from compressor
3636 engines with more than 100 horsepower;
3737 (5) maintenance requirements and best practices for
3838 compressor stations; and
3939 (6) emissions from and maintenance of pneumatic
4040 devices and controllers between a wellhead and a natural gas
4141 processing plant.
4242 (c) The commission shall prepare a report that:
4343 (1) addresses issues raised concerning the rules or
4444 requirements described by Subsection (b); and
4545 (2) suggests options for improving safety, preventing
4646 air emissions from oil and gas equipment, including methane and
4747 other useful products, and reducing emissions from facilities
4848 described by Subsection (a)(1).
4949 (d) In suggesting options for improvement for the purposes
5050 of Subsection (c)(2), the commission may consider both regulatory
5151 and incentive approaches, including approaches taken in other
5252 leading oil and gas producing states that would lead to
5353 improvements in air quality and public health.
5454 (e) The commission may cooperate with the Railroad
5555 Commission of Texas in developing the report and obtaining public
5656 comment under Subsection (f).
5757 (f) Not later than April 1, 2022, the commission shall issue
5858 and make available for public comment a preliminary report. The
5959 commission may hold meetings to consider public comment. After
6060 considering public comment, if any, but not later than September 1,
6161 2022, the commission shall post on its Internet website the final
6262 report.
6363 (g) Nothing in this section prevents the commission from
6464 adopting rules on the issues contained in the study.
6565 (h) This section expires August 31, 2023.
6666 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
6767 last day of the legislative session.