The Wise Report
Henry M. Wise, P.G.
January 12, 2019
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has released the following new and revised publications:
Texas Groundwater Protection Strategy, AS-188 (revised publication)
A comprehensive groundwater protection strategy for the state of Texas that provides guidelines for the prevention of contamination, the conservation of groundwater, and the coordination of activities of the agencies involved. https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/comm_exec/pubs/as/188.pdf
Dry Cleaning Activities: Report to the 86th Texas Legislature (2017-1018), SFR-083/18 (new publication)
Report on the collection of funds, disbursements from the fund, the extent of corrective action, and site rankings. https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/comm_exec/pubs/sfr/083-18.pdf
Status of Corrective Action at Petroleum-contaminated Sites, SFR-113/18 (new publication)
A compilation of data reported during all quarters in the fiscal year for all Key and Non-Key Outcome, Output, Efficiency, and Explanatory Performance Measures for the TCEQ. https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/comm_exec/pubs/sfr/113-18.pdf
Activities and Recommendations of the Texas Groundater Protection committee – Report to the 86th Legislature
This report describes the Texas Groundwater Protection Committee (TGPC) activities during 2017 and 2018, discusses selected groundwater protection issues, and provides recommendations to improve groundwater protection for the 86th Texas Legislature’s consideration. https://www.tceq.texas.gov/assets/public/comm_exec/pubs/sfr/047-18.pdf
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The State Legislature is now in session and bills are being filed and worked on. New information is listed in bold (six new bills listed):
HB 223, by Reynolds, Relating to the funding through greenhouse gas emissions fees of energy efficiency programs administered by certain utilities; authorizing a fee. Filed 11/12/2018. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB223
HB 225, by Reynolds, Relating to the analysis of inspection and maintenance requirements for air quality permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for certain oil and gas facilities. Regulates fugitive emissions from all oil field equipment, the use of venting and flaring, etc. Filed 11/12/2018. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB225
HB 245, by Farrar, Relating to a requirement to make certain environmental and water use permit applications available online. "The applicant shall post a copy of the application on a publicly accessible Internet website and provide to the commission the address of that website." Filed 11/12/2018. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB245
HB 478, by Phelan, Relating to the funding of flood planning, mitigation, and infrastructure projects. Filed 12/6/2018. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB478
HB 481, by Kuempel, Relating to the storage and recovery of water in a portion of the Edwards Aquifer. Filed 12/6/2018. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB481
HB 720, by Larson, Relating to appropriations of water for use in aquifer storage and recovery projects. Filed 1/10/2019. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB720
HB 721, by Larson, Relating to the duty of the Texas Water Development Board to conduct studies of and prepare and submit reports on aquifer storage and recovery. Filed 1/10/2019. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB721
HB 722, by Larson, Relating to the development of brackish groundwater. Filed 1/10/2019. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB722
HB 723, by Larson, Relating to a requirement that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality obtain or develop updated water availability models for certain river basins. Filed 1/10/2019. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB723
HB 724, by Larson, Relating to the authorization by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of the discharge, diversion, and transfer or other reuse of treated brackish groundwater and return flows derived from treated brackish groundwater. Filed 1/10/2019. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB724
HB 726, by Larson, Relating to the regulation of groundwater. Filed 1/10/2019. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB726
SB 179, by Miles, Relating to the establishment of a task force to conduct a comprehensive study on flood control infrastructure for Harris County. Received by the Secretary of the Senate 11/14/2018. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=SB179
SB 185, by Miles, Relating to the response to certain oil or gas well accidents by state agencies and responsible parties. An operator of an oil or gas well shall give immediate notice of a fire, leak, spill, or break at the well to the appropriate commission oil and gas division district office and submit to the commission a letter giving a full description of the event, including the volume of crude oil, gas, or other well liquids or gases lost. Received by the Secretary of the Senate 11/14/2018. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=SB185
Henry M. Wise, P.G.
The Wise Report
1/12/2019