Millennium Challenge Looks Like Texas

0 Comments | Environmental Insider News, July 31, 2005

Still More Texas Legislation

As we continue to sift through the maze of bills enacted by the 79th Legislature during the regular session and first called session, we found a few more of interest (and who knows what will come out of the 2nd called, 3rd called, and 15th called sessions?):

Senate Bill 1290 (Wentworth) provides an exception to the prohibition on the sale of liquid petroleum based refrigerants for hydrocarbon technology refrigerant, which replicates the cooling characteristics of Freon (CRC-12) but does not deplete the ozone layer or contribute to global warming and it saves energy.

Senate Bill 1297 (Armbrister) provides an exception to the prohibition of discharging used oil into water in the state if the concentration of used oil resulting from the discharge as it enters state waters is less than 15 ppm following the discharge. This replaces the "visible sheen" standard with a true measurement. The new law also prohibits discharging used oil into a drainage system.

Senate Bill 1413 (Shapleigh) provides the 18 Texas counties with populations of at least 250,000 people with authority to establish a program for the cleanup and economic redevelopment of brownfields. Such programs could be financed through a tax or fee assessment for investment in site cleanup and preparation to generate a brownfield fund. This fund could be used to pay for contracts or provide grants or loans for assessment, remediation and inspections of property or a facility after remediation.

Counties with such programs could also act as liaison between property owners and contractors in obtaining assistance from TCEQ for assessment, remediation, and inspections. Counties could also designate an area within the county that contains a brownfield as a reinvestment zone and enter into a tax abatement agreement based on the remediation of the brownfield with its eligible owner. SB 1413 still requires TCEQ to amend policies, procedures, and guidance documents and to review draft proposals to ensure that they supplement the state brownfield program. TCEQ's Remediation Division would also provide educational, advisory, or technical services as well as assistance in obtaining federal grants.

Senate Bill 1498 (Fraser) protects a district that provides potable water, has fire and police services, an airport and a hotel and which straddles two counties from being included, without its consent, within the boundaries of a municipality other than that of the county in which it is located.

Bluebonnets

TCEQ Seeking Pollution Preventers

TCEQ has asked for nominations to fill several vacant positions on its Pollution Prevention Advisory Committee for 2- or 4-year terms. Nominations must be submitted by August 22 for the following positions -

- two representatives from an environmental or public interest group.

- two representatives from the regulated community.

- one representative from academia.

- ex officio appointments (with staggered terms) to fill vacant positions, including potential appointments for small business, agriculture, Department of Defense, Clean Texas, Cleaner World members, local government, labor organizations, and other interested parties.