HBA-KDB H.B. 3228 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3228
By: Shields
Natural Resources
3/26/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In July of 1999, a breach of a gasoline supply in the underground storage
tank of a gas station caused 800 gallons of gasoline to spill into the
Trinity Aquifer in Bexar County.  There is concern that aquifers, which are
an important source of drinking water for populous counties, are not
adequately protected.   House Bill 3228 requires the Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission to apply increased containment standards for
underground storage tanks located over an aquifer recharge zone in a county
with a population of at least one million that relies on groundwater for at
least 75 percent of the county's water supply. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3228 amends the Water Code to require an underground storage
tank system to incorporate a method for secondary containment if the system
is located in the recharge zone of an aquifer and in a county that has a
population of at least one million and relies on groundwater for at least
75 percent of the county's water supply.  The Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission is authorized to issue a notice of violation to the
owner or operator of an underground storage tank system that does not
incorporate a method for secondary containment. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.