TITLE rule-review

Agency Rule Review Plan--Revised

Texas Education Agency

Title 19, Part 2

TRD-200403337

Filed: May 17, 2004


Proposed Rule Reviews

Texas Education Agency

Title 19, Part 2

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) proposes the review of 19 TAC Chapter 66, State Adoption and Distribution of Instructional Materials, pursuant to the Texas Government Code, §2001.039.

As required by the Texas Government Code, §2001.039, the TEA will accept comments as to whether the reasons for adopting 19 TAC Chapter 66 continue to exist. The comment period begins with the publication of this notice and must last a minimum of 30 days.

Comments or questions regarding this rule review may be submitted to Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez, Policy Coordination Division, Texas Education Agency, 1701 North Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701-1494, (512) 475-1497. Comments may also be submitted electronically to rules@tea.state.tx.us or faxed to (512) 463-0028.

TRD-200403336

Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez

Director, Policy Coordination

Texas Education Agency

Filed: May 17, 2004


Railroad Commission of Texas

Title 16, Part 1

The Railroad Commission of Texas files this notice of intention to review and readopt 16 Texas Administrative Code Chapters 11 and 12, relating to Surface Mining and Reclamation Division and Coal Mining Regulations, respectively. This review and consideration is being conducted in accordance with Texas Government Code, §2001.039.

The agency's reasons for adopting these rules continue to exist; however, in a separate but concurrent rulemaking, the Commission has proposed some amendments to §12.108, regarding Permit Fees. The proposed amendments will be filed with the Texas Register concurrently with this proposed review. In addition, the Commission currently has pending a proposal to amend §§12.3, 12.142, 12.145, 12.384, and 12.385, regarding the use of coal combustion products and by-products. This proposal was published in the November 28, 2003, issue of the Texas Register (28 TexReg 10591).

The Commission also notes that in the April 9, 2004, issue of the Texas Register (29 TexReg 3584), the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) proposed the repeal of Subchapter E in Chapter 11, in particular §§11.1001 - 11.1005, 11.1021, 11.1031 - 11.1045, 11.1061 - 11.1065, and 11.1081, concerning Quarry and Pit Safety. The rules are proposed for repeal because House Bill 2847, 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, transferred all powers, duties, functions, and activities performed by the Commission under the Texas Aggregate Quarry and Pit Safety Act, Chapter 133, Natural Resources Code, to TxDOT. TxDOT proposed its new rules in new Subchapter M, §§21.701 - 21.723, Title 43, concerning quarry pit safety in the April 9, 2004, issue of the Texas Register (29 TexReg 3602).

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Rules Coordinator, Office of General Counsel, Railroad Commission of Texas, P.O. Box 12967, Austin, Texas 78711-2967; online at www.rrc.state.tx.us/rules/commentform.html; or by electronic mail to rulescoordinator@rrc.state.tx.us. The Commission will accept comments for 30 days after publication in the Texas Register . The Commission encourages all interested persons to submit comments no later than the deadline. The Commission cannot guarantee that comments submitted after the deadline will be considered. For further information, call Melvin Hodgkiss, Director, Surface Mining and Reclamation Division, at (512) 463-6901. The status of Commission rulemakings in progress is available at www.rrc.state.tx.us/rules/proposed.html.

Issued in Austin, Texas, on May 11, 2004.

TRD-200403231

Mary Ross McDonald

Managing Director

Railroad Commission of Texas

Filed: May 13, 2004


Adopted Rule Reviews

Texas Education Agency

Title 19, Part 2

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) adopts the review of 19 TAC Chapter 100, Charters, Subchapter A, Open-Enrollment Charter Schools; and Subchapter B, Home-Rule School District Charters, pursuant to the Texas Government Code, §2001.039. The TEA proposed the review of 19 TAC Chapter 100 in the March 26, 2004, issue of the Texas Register (29 TexReg 3239).

The TEA finds that the reason for adopting 19 TAC Chapter 100 continues to exist. The TEA received no comments related to the rule review requirement. Simultaneous to the rule review, the TEA proposed amendments to §100.1 and §100.105, which may be found in the Proposed Rules section of the March 26, 2004, issue (29 TexReg 3028). Subsequently, in response to action taken by the State Board of Education during its May 7, 2004, meeting, the TEA has filed a withdrawal of the amendment to §100.1 and the adoption of the amendment to §100.105. The adoption creates application and selection procedures that are unique to charters granted under Texas Education Code, Chapter 12, Subchapter E, and can be found in the Adopted Rules section of this issue. This concludes the review of 19 TAC Chapter 100.

TRD-200403334

Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez

Director, Policy Coordination

Texas Education Agency

Filed: May 17, 2004


The Texas Education Agency (TEA) adopts the review of 19 TAC Chapter 102, Educational Programs, pursuant to the Texas Government Code, §2001.039. The TEA proposed the review of 19 TAC Chapter 102 in the December 5, 2003, issue of the Texas Register (28 TexReg 10977).

The TEA finds that the reasons for adopting 19 TAC Chapter 102, Subchapters AA and BB, continue to exist. The TEA received no comments related to the rule review requirement. Changes to Subchapter AA will be proposed in a future issue of the Texas Register in order to update the rule to address provisions resulting from Rider 49 of Article III, 78th Texas Legislature, 2003, relating to the Head Start-Ready to Read Program. Changes to Subchapter BB were necessary to update provisions to be consistent with current application instructions for the Master Reading Teacher Grant Program and to add provisions for the Master Mathematics Teacher Grant Program. The TEA adopted revisions to 19 TAC Chapter 102, Subchapter BB, in the May 7, 2004, issue of the Texas Register (29 TexReg 4472).

This concludes the review of 19 TAC Chapter 102.

TRD-200403368

Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez

Director, Policy Coordination

Texas Education Agency

Filed: May 18, 2004


The Texas Education Agency (TEA) adopts the review of 19 TAC Chapter 129, Student Attendance, Subchapter A, Student Attendance Allowed; Subchapter B, Student Attendance Accounting; and Subchapter AA, Commissioner's Rules, pursuant to the Texas Government Code, §2001.039. The TEA proposed the review of 19 TAC Chapter 129 in the March 26, 2004, issue of the Texas Register (29 TexReg 3239).

The TEA finds that the reason for adopting 19 TAC Chapter 129 continues to exist. The TEA received no comments related to the rule review requirement. No changes are necessary as a result of the review. This concludes the review of 19 TAC Chapter 129.

TRD-200403335

Cristina De La Fuente-Valadez

Director, Policy Coordination

Texas Education Agency

Filed: May 17, 2004


Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Title 30, Part 1

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (commission) adopts the rules review and readopts Chapter 118, Control of Air Pollution Episodes, without changes, in accordance with Texas Government Code, §2001.039, 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. The review did not identify any updates, consistency issues, or other changes that need to be addressed. The notice of intention to review was published in the December 12, 2003, issue of the Texas Register (28 TexReg 11117).

CHAPTER SUMMARY

Chapter 118 specifies actions to be taken by the commission and regulated entities in preparation for, or in response to, an air pollution episode. An episode is the existence of a widespread condition of air pollution that creates an emergency requiring immediate action to protect human health or safety. One of these episodes would cover a geographical area, involve a combination of stagnating weather conditions and specified ambient levels of specified pollutants, and remain for at least 12 hours. Under such conditions, the commission, with the governor's concurrence, would order any contributing source to reduce or discontinue the emission of air contaminants immediately.

Chapter 118 was first adopted on January 26, 1972, under provisions of the 1971 Texas Clean Air Act, the 1970 Federal Clean Air Act, and the content requirements for state implementation plans in the Code of Federal Regulations. Several improvements were made to the chapter in 1975, 1987, 1989, and 2000. In 1989, the chapter was revised to make its provisions consistent with new requirements published by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. In 2000, the chapter was revised to improve readability and to update references and citations as part of the commission's regulatory reform goals.

ASSESSMENT OF WHETHER THE REASONS FOR THE RULES CONTINUE TO EXIST

The commission conducted a review and determined that the reasons for the rules in Chapter 118 continue to exist. The rules are necessary under current provisions of Texas Health and Safety Code, Texas Clean Air Act, §382.026, concerning Orders Issued Under Emergencies; and Texas Water Code, §5.514, concerning Order Issued Under Air Emergency. In addition, Chapter 118 is the state's means of complying with the federal requirements of 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 51, Subpart H, relating to Prevention of Air Pollution Emergency Episodes; and is a part of the state implementation plan to attain the federal national ambient air quality standards for ozone under 40 Code of Federal Regulations §52.2270 which implements the Federal Clean Air Act, §110, concerning Implementation Plans.

PUBLIC COMMENT

The public comment period closed on January 12, 2004. No comments were received.

TRD-200403265

Stephanie Bergeron

Director, Environmental Law Division

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Filed: May 14, 2004


The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (commission) adopts the rules review and readopts Chapter 294, Groundwater Management Areas, without changes, in accordance with Texas Government Code, §2001.039, 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. The notice of intention to review was published in the January 16, 2004, issue of the Texas Register (29 TexReg 507).

CHAPTER SUMMARY

Chapter 294 provides for the designation of certain groundwater management areas and the procedures for the designation of priority groundwater management areas (PGMAs), including recommendations for the creation of groundwater conservation districts. The chapter provides the designations and delineations of priority groundwater management areas designated by commission rule prior to September 1, 2001, after which designations were made by commission order.

Subchapter A, Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer, contains §294.1, Definitions; §294.2, Designation of Management Area 3 of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer; §294.3, Designation of Management Area 4 of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer; and §294.4, Description of Boundaries.

Subchapter B, Antlers Sand Aquifer, contains §294.10, Definitions; §294.11, Designation of Union Hill Underground Water Management Area of the Antlers Sand Aquifer; and §294.12, Description of Boundaries.

Subchapter D, Priority Groundwater Management Areas, provides for the designations and boundaries of three priority groundwater management areas and contains §294.30, Purpose and Applicability; §294.31, Designation of Briscoe, Hale and Swisher County Priority Groundwater Management Area; §294.32, Designation of Dallam County Priority Groundwater Management Area; and §294.35, Designation of Reagan, Upton, and Midland County Priority Groundwater Management Area.

Subchapter E, Designation of Priority Groundwater Management Areas, provides for the identification, stakeholder notice, coordination with participating agencies, and executive director report for priority groundwater management area studies. The subchapter provides procedures including notice and hearing for commission actions to consider designation of priority groundwater management areas. The subchapter contains §294.39, Purpose; §294.40, Definitions; §294.41, Priority Groundwater Management Area Identification, Study, and Executive Director's Report Concerning Designation; §294.42, Commission Action Concerning PGMA Designation; §294.43, Actions Required After PGMA Designation; and §294.44, Adding a PGMA to an Existing Groundwater Conservation District.

Subchapter F, East Texas Groundwater Management Area, contains §294.60, Purpose and Scope; §294.61, Definitions; §294.62, Designation of East Texas Groundwater Management Area (ETGMA); and §294.63, Boundaries.

ASSESSMENT OF WHETHER THE REASONS FOR THE RULES CONTINUE TO EXIST

The commission conducted a review and determined that the reasons for Subchapters D and E in Chapter 294 continue to exist. The rules are needed to implement the requirements of Texas Water Code, Chapter 35, in order to identify, study, and designate priority groundwater management areas in areas experiencing or likely to experience critical groundwater problems in the next 25 years. The name of the chapter should be changed to Priority Groundwater Management Areas to better describe the purpose of the rules.

The reasons for Subchapters A, B, and F no longer exist, and these subchapters are being repealed. Senate Bill 2, §2.22, 77th Legislature, 2001, transferred the authority to designate groundwater management areas from the commission to the Texas Water Development Board. These groundwater management areas are no longer valid and should be repealed to avoid confusion with the Texas Water Development Board groundwater management area designations.

PUBLIC COMMENT

The public comment period closed on February 17, 2004. No comments were received.

TRD-200403264

Stephanie Bergeron

Director, Environmental Law Division

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Filed: May 14, 2004