TITLE rule-review

Proposed Rule Review

Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission

Title 30, Part 1

The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (commission) files this notice of intention to review and propose the readoption of Chapter 321, Control of Certain Activities By Rule. This review of Chapter 321 is proposed in accordance with the requirements of Texas Government Code, §2001.039; and the General Appropriations Act, Article IX, §9-10.13, 76th Legislature, 1999, which require state agencies to review and consider for readoption each of their rules every four years. A review must include an assessment of whether the reasons for the rules continue to exist.

CHAPTER SUMMARY

Chapter 321 provides Texas authorization for numerous discharges that are more efficiently authorized by rule than by individual permits and is organized into the following 15 subchapters:

Subchapter A, Boat Sewage Disposal, contains provisions addressing the following: definitions; the requirements, specifications, and certifications for marine sanitation devices; disposal of boat sewage; specifications, certifications, fees, and disposal of sewage from pump-out facilities; exclusions; renewal of certifications; disposition of fees; cancellation of certification, replacement, or transfer; and criminal penalties.

Subchapter B, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, contains provisions addressing the following: waste and wastewater discharge and air emissions limitations; definitions; applicability; procedures for making application for an individual permit; procedures for making application for registration; notice of application for registration; proper concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) operation and maintenance; pollution prevention plans; best management practices; monitoring and reporting requirements; notification; dairy outreach program areas; effect of conflict or invalidity of rule; air standard permit authorization; and initial Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) authorization.

Subchapter C, Meat Processing, contains provisions addressing the following: definitions; applicability; certification of registration; domestic waste disposal.

Subchapter D, Sand and Gravel Washing, contains provisions addressing the following: application of subchapter; treatment and retention facilities; diversion of runoff; available capacity; and prohibition of unauthorized discharge.

Subchapter E, Surface Coal Mining, Preparation, and Reclamation Activities, contains provisions addressing the following: definitions; discharges authorized by rule; permit required; term, modification; hearing; enforcement; effluent and additional effluent limitations; associated facilities; and monitoring and reporting of data.

Subchapter F, Shrimp Industry, contains provisions addressing the following: definitions; applicability; certificate of registration; domestic waste disposal; requirements; rights of review; and appeal of decisions by the executive director.

Subchapter G, Hydrostatic Test Discharges, contains provisions addressing the following: definitions; applicability; new and used facilities; registration; general and specific requirements for discharges; sampling, reporting, recordkeeping, and restrictions; and enforcement.

Subchapter H, Discharge to Surface Waters from Treatment of Petroleum Substance Contaminated Waters, contains provisions addressing the following: definitions; applicability; discharges of water contaminated by gasoline, jet fuel or kerosene, and other petroleum substances; telephone utilities; restrictions; enforcement; and reservations.

Subchapter I, Additional Characteristics and Conditions of General Permits And For Controlling Certain Activities By Rule, contains provisions addressing the following: additional characteristics and conditions for general permits and control of certain activities by rule.

Subchapter J, Discharges To Surface Waters From Ready-Mixed Concrete Plants And/Or Concrete Products Plants Or Associated Facilities, contains provisions addressing the following: definitions; purpose and applicability; certificate of registration and public notice; general and specific requirements for discharge; sampling, reporting, recordkeeping, and restrictions; enforcement and revocation; and annual waste treatment fees.

Subchapter K, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, contains provisions addressing the following: waste and wastewater discharge and air emission limitations; definitions; applicability; application requirements and review; notice of application; public comments; permit issuance; amendments; renewal; proper CAFO operation and maintenance; pollution prevention plans; best management practices; other requirements; monitoring and reporting requirements; registration; dairy outreach program areas; and effect of conflict or invalidity of rule.

Subchapter L, Discharges To Surface Waters From Motor Vehicles Cleaning Facilities, contains provisions addressing the following: definitions; purpose and applicability; certificate of registration and public notice; active agency permits; general and specific requirements for discharge; sampling, reporting, and recordkeeping; restrictions; enforcement and revocation; and annual waste treatment fees.

Subchapter M, Discharges to Surface Waters From Petroleum Bulk Stations And Terminals, contains provisions addressing the following: definitions; purpose and applicability; active permits; certificate of registration and public notice; general and specific requirements for discharge; sampling, reporting and recordkeeping; restrictions; enforcement and revocation; and annual waste treatment fees.

Subchapter N, Handling of Wastes From Commercial Facilities Engaged In Livestock Trailer Cleaning, contains provisions addressing the following: statement of no discharge policy; definitions; purpose and applicability; certificate of registration and public notice; requirements for containment of waste and ponds; general requirements; restrictions; enforcement and revocation; and annual waste treatment fees.

Subchapter O, Discharges From Aquaculture Production Facilities, contains provisions addressing the following: definitions; purpose and applicability; certificate of registration and public notice; groundwater protection; waste utilization or disposal by land application of wastewater and pond bottom sludges; Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone; required best management practices and specific requirements for discharge; general requirements; enforcement and revocation, suspension, or annulment; and annual waste treatment fees.

PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF WHETHER THE REASONS FOR THE RULES CONTINUE TO EXIST

The commission conducted a preliminary review and determined that the reasons for the rules in Chapter 321 continue to exist. The rules are needed to implement the commission's objectives to streamline the permitting process consistent with Texas Water Code, Chapters 5 and 26 and Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapters 341, 361, and 382. Chapter 321 provides Texas authorization for numerous discharges that are more efficiently authorized by rule than by individual permits. In the future, some of these permits by rule may be converted into general permits.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

This proposal is limited to the review in accordance with the requirements of Texas Government Code, §2001.039, and the General Appropriations Act, Article IX, §9 - 10.13, 76th Legislature, 1999. The commission invites public comment on whether the reasons for the rules in Chapter 321 continue to exist. Comments may be submitted to Angela Slupe, Office of Environmental Policy, Analysis, and Assessment, MC 205, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087 or faxed to (512) 239-4808. All comments should reference Rule Log Number 2000-037-321-WT. Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m., August 20, 2001. For further information or questions concerning this proposal, please contact Michael Bame, Policy and Regulations Division, (512) 239-5658.

TRD-200103815

Ramon Dasch

Acting Director, Environmental Law Division

Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission

Filed: July 3, 2001


Adopted Rule Reviews

Texas Department of Agriculture

Title 4, Part 1

The Texas Department of Agriculture (the department) adopts the review Title 4, Texas Administrative Code, Part 1, Chapter 4, concerning Cooperative Marketing Associations, and Chapter 6, concerning Seed Arbitration, pursuant to the Texas Government Code, §2001.039 and the General Appropriations Act, Article IX, §9-10.13, 76th Legislature, 1999 (Section 9-10.13). Section 9- 10.13 and §2001.039 require state agencies to review and consider for readoption each of their rules every four years. The review must include an assessment of whether the original justification for the rules continues to exist.

The notice of intent to review Chapters 4 and 6 was published in the May 18, 2001, issue of the Texas Register (26 TexReg 3643). No comments were received on the notice. As part of the review process, the department adopts the repeal of Title 4, Part 1, §4.5 and §6.5. These may be found in the adopted rule section of this publication of the Texas Register . The assessment of Title 4, Part 1, Chapters 4 and 6 by the department at this time indicates that with the exception of the sections proposed for repeal, the reason for readopting without changes all remaining sections in Chapters 4 and 6 continues to exist.

TRD-200103732

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Filed: June 29, 2001


Texas Workers' Compensation Commission

Title 28, Part 2

In accordance with the General Appropriation Act, Article IX, §167, 75th Legislature, the General Appropriations Act, Section 9-10, 76th Legislature, and Texas Government Code §2001.039, as added by Senate Bill 178, 76th Legislature, and pursuant to the notice of intention to review published in the May 4, 2001, issue of the Texas Register (26 TexReg 3401) the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission (the commission) has reviewed and considered for readoption the following rules in Title 28, Part 2 of the Texas Administrative Code.

CHAPTER 102. PRACTICE AND PROCEDURES--GENERAL PROVISIONS.

§102.2. Gifts, Grants, and Donations.

§102.3. Computation of Time.

§102.4. General Rules for Non-Commission Communications.

§102.5. General Rules for Written Communications to and from the Commission.

§102.7. Abbreviations.

§102.8. Information Requested on Written communications to the Commission.

§102.9. Submission of Information Requested by the Commission.

§102.10. Interest, General.

The commission has assessed whether the reason for adopting or readopting these rules continues to exist. No comments were received regarding the review of this rule.

As a result of the review, the commission has determined that the reason for adoption of these rules continues to exist. Therefore, the commission readopts this rule. If the commission determines that this rule should be revised, the revision will be accomplished in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

TRD-200103670

Susan Cory

General Counsel

Texas Workers' Compensation Commission

Filed: June 27, 2001