TITLE rule-review

Proposed Rule Reviews

Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission

Title 30, Part 1

The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (commission) files this notice of intention to review and proposes the readoption of Chapter 90, Regulatory Flexibility and Environmental Management Systems. This review of Chapter 90 is proposed in accordance with the requirements of Texas Government Code, §2001.039 (added by Acts 1999, 76th Legislature, Chapter 1499, §1.11(a)), which requires state agencies to review and consider for readoption each of their rules every four years. The review must include an assessment of whether the reasons for the rules continue to exist.

CHAPTER SUMMARY

Chapter 90 provides for flexibility, if certain criteria are met, from the requirements of any statute or commission rule regarding the control or abatement of pollution, except that it does not apply to requirements for storing, handling, processing, or disposing of low-level radioactive materials. Chapter 90 also provides for regulatory incentives for having an environmental management system that meets certain criteria. A person who has been referred to the Texas or United States attorney general and has incurred a judgment, or who has been convicted of willfully or knowingly committing an environmental crime regarding the site for which the person is requesting regulatory flexibility or incentives, is ineligible for a period of three years.

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 90 continue to exist. The rules are needed to implement Texas Water Code (TWC), §5.127, Environmental Management Systems; §5.131, Environmental Management Systems; and §5.758, Regulatory Flexibility. However, House Bill 2912, §4.02, 77th Legislature, 2001, amended TWC, §5.758, changing it from §5.123 and adding provisions. Therefore, in a recent rulemaking the commission proposed amendments to §90.1 and §90.10 to incorporate the legislative changes (April 26, 2002 (27 TexReg 3471)).

PUBLIC COMMENT

This proposal is limited to the review in accordance with the requirements of Texas Government Code, §2001.039 (added by Acts 1999, 76th Legislature, Chapter 1499, §1.11(a)). The commission invites public comment on whether the reasons for the rules in Chapter 90 continue to exist. Comments may be submitted to Patricia Durón, Office of Environmental Policy, Analysis, and Assessment, MC 205, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087 or faxed to (512) 239-6087. All comments should reference Rule Log Number 2001-073-090-AD. Comments must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m., July 5, 2002. For further information or questions concerning this proposal, please contact Joseph Thomas, Policy and Regulations Division, at (512) 239-4580.

TRD-200203483

Stephanie Bergeron

Director, Environmental Law Division

Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission

Filed: June 5, 2002


Railroad Commission of Texas

Title 16, Part 1

The Railroad Commission of Texas files this notice of intent to review and readopt without change the following sections of 16 Texas Administrative Code, Part 1, Chapter 3: §3.3, relating to Identification of Properties, Wells and Tanks; §3.24, relating to Check Valves Required; §3.25, relating to Use of Common Storage; §3.49, relating to Gas-Oil Ratio; and §3.60, relating to Refinery Reports, in accordance with Texas Government Code, §2001.039. The agency's reasons for adopting these rules continue to exist.

Comments on the proposed review may be submitted to Rules Coordinator, Office of General Counsel, Railroad Commission of Texas, P.O. Box 12967, Austin, Texas 78711-2967. Comments may also be submitted online at www.rrc.state.tx.us/rules/proposed.html, or by electronic mail to rulescoordinator@rrc.state.tx.us. Comments should refer to Oil and Gas Docket No. 20-0231492. The Commission will accept comments for 30 days after publication in the Texas Register . For further information, call Ms. Leslie Savage at (512) 463-7308.

Issued in Austin, Texas, on June 4, 2002.

TRD-200203456

Mary Ross McDonald

Deputy General Counsel

Railroad Commission of Texas

Filed: June 4, 2002


Adopted Rule Reviews

Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service/Office of the Texas State Chemist

Title 4, Part 3

Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service (TFFCS)/Office of the Texas State Chemist (OTSC) adopts the review of Title 4, Part 3, Chapter 61, Commercial Feed Rules without changes as published in the March 22, 2002, issue of the Texas Register (27 TexReg 2263). The review was conducted in accordance with Texas Government Code §2001.39.

TFFCS/OTSC has determined that the reasons for adopting the rules continue to exist. No comments were received regarding the readoption of these rules.

The review is adopted under the Texas Agriculture Code, Chapter 141, §141.004 which provides the Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service with the authority to promulgate rules relating to the distribution of commercial feeds.

TRD-200203465

Dr. George W. Latimer, Jr.

State Chemist

Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service/Office of the Texas State Chemist

Filed: June 4, 2002


Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service (TFFCS)/Office of the Texas State Chemist (OTSC) adopts the review of Title 4, Part 3, Chapter 63, Pet Food Rules, without changes as published in the March 22, 2002 issue of the Texas Register (27 TexReg 2264). The review was conducted in accordance with Texas Government Code §2001.39.

TFFCS/OTSC has determined that the reasons for adopting the rules continue to exist. No comments were received regarding the readoption of these rules.

The review is adopted under the Texas Agriculture Code, Chapter 141, §141.004 which provides the Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service with the authority to promulgate rules relating to the distribution of commercial feeds.

TRD-200203466

Dr. George W. Latimer, Jr.

State Chemist

Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service/Office of the Texas State Chemist

Filed: June 4, 2002


Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service (TFFCS)/Office of the Texas State Chemist (OTSC) adopts the review of Title 4, Part 3, Chapter 65, Commercial Fertilizer Rules without changes as published in the March 22, 2002 issue of the Texas Register (27 TexReg 2264). The review was conducted in accordance with Texas Government Code §2001.39.

TFFCS/OTSC has determined that the reasons for adopting the rules continue to exist. No comments were received regarding the readoption of these rules.

The review is adopted under the Texas Agriculture Code, Chapter 63, §63.004 which provides the Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service with the authority to promulgate rules relating to the distribution of commercial fertilizers.

TRD-200203467

Dr. George W. Latimer, Jr.

State Chemist

Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service/Office of the Texas State Chemist

Filed: June 4, 2002


Texas Department of Transportation

Title 43, Part 1

The Texas Department of Transportation (department) readopts Title 43 TAC, Part 1, §§15.50 - 15.56, Federal, State, and Local Participation.

The review was conducted in accordance with Government Code, §2001.039.

The proposed review was published in the March 29, 2002, issue of the Texas Register (27 TexReg 2542). No comments were received regarding the readoption of these rules. The Texas Transportation Commission (commission) has reviewed these sections and determined that the reasons for adopting them continue to exist. However, the commission also finds that §15.54, Construction, requires amendments. The proposed amendments to this section are published in the proposed rule section of this issue of the Texas Register .

TRD-200203353

Bob Jackson

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Transportation

Filed: May 30, 2002