Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1179 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R8123 ANG-D
2	2	By: Alvarado S.B. No. 1179
3	3
4	4
5	5
6	6
7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to the regulation of certain facilities that store and
10	10	distribute benzene or another volatile organic compound; creating a
11	11	criminal offense.
12	12	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
13	13	SECTION 1. Section 382.017, Health and Safety Code, is
14	14	amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
15	15	(g) The commission shall review and update any rules adopted
16	16	under this subchapter related to emissions of benzene at least once
17	17	every five years.
18	18	SECTION 2. Chapter 382, Health and Safety Code, is amended
19	19	by adding Subchapter M to read as follows:
20	20	SUBCHAPTER M. REGULATION OF CERTAIN CHEMICAL DISTRIBUTION
21	21	FACILITIES
22	22	Sec. 382.601. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "chemical
23	23	distribution facility" means a facility that:
24	24	(1) stores and distributes a substance that is
25	25	classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as
26	26	a volatile organic compound, including benzene, for the purposes of
27	27	the state implementation plan; and
28	28	(2) is subject to a permit requirement under this
29	29	chapter.
30	30	Sec. 382.602. EMISSION CONTROL DEVICES. The commission by
31	31	rule shall require each chemical distribution facility to be
32	32	equipped with state-of-the-art emission control devices, such as
33	33	thermal oxidizers and carbon absorption systems, designed to
34	34	effectively capture and treat benzene and other types of volatile
35	35	organic compounds.
36	36	Sec. 382.603. CONTINUOUS AIR QUALITY MONITORING STATIONS IN
37	37	CERTAIN COMMUNITIES. (a) The commission by rule shall require an
38	38	owner or operator of a chemical distribution facility to install
39	39	and maintain continuous ambient air quality monitors in the
40	40	communities adjacent to the chemical distribution facility, as
41	41	determined by the commission, to collect data on the ambient
42	42	concentration of benzene and other types of volatile organic
43	43	compounds in those communities.
44	44	(b) The rules must require that the owner or operator of the
45	45	facility provide data from each monitor installed by the owner or
46	46	operator to the commission in real time. The commission shall make
47	47	available in real time on its Internet website data received from
48	48	each monitor.
49	49	Sec. 382.604. INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. The
50	50	commission by rule shall require regular emissions-related
51	51	inspections and maintenance of a chemical distribution facility,
52	52	including:
53	53	(1) quarterly visual inspections;
54	54	(2) annual inspections to ensure the facility is
55	55	operated with no detectable emissions of regulated volatile organic
56	56	compounds; and
57	57	(3) the immediate repair of any issues identified by
58	58	the commission, including unlatched hatches, damaged seals, and
59	59	leaks.
60	60	Sec. 382.605. COMPLIANCE AUDIT. The commission shall
61	61	conduct quarterly audits of each chemical distribution facility to
62	62	determine compliance with this subchapter.
63	63	Sec. 382.606. VIOLATION OF SUBCHAPTER. (a) A violation of
64	64	a provision of or rule adopted under this subchapter is punishable
65	65	as an offense under Section 7.181, Water Code.
66	66	(b) A penalty collected under this section must be deposited
67	67	to the credit of the community environmental remediation fund
68	68	created under Section 382.607.
69	69	Sec. 382.607. COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION FUND;
70	70	GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The community environmental remediation fund
71	71	is created as a special fund in the state treasury outside the
72	72	general revenue fund. The fund consists of money deposited to the
73	73	credit of the fund under Section 382.606. Money in the fund may be
74	74	appropriated only to the commission for purposes of the grant
75	75	program established under Subsection (b).
76	76	(b) From money appropriated from the community
77	77	environmental remediation fund for that purpose, the commission
78	78	shall establish and administer a grant program to provide financial
79	79	assistance to counties and municipalities for environmental
80	80	remediation projects conducted in communities affected by a
81	81	violation of this subchapter or another provision of this chapter
82	82	that applies to chemical distribution facilities.
83	83	(c) The commission shall adopt rules to implement the
84	84	program established under Subsection (b), including rules
85	85	establishing:
86	86	(1) eligibility criteria for grant applicants and
87	87	community environmental remediation projects;
88	88	(2) grant application procedures;
89	89	(3) criteria for evaluating grant applications and
90	90	awarding grants;
91	91	(4) guidelines related to grant amounts; and
92	92	(5) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant
93	93	awarded under Subsection (b) and ensuring compliance with any
94	94	conditions of the grant.
95	95	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.