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11 Document(s) [ Subject: Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. ]

Committee:	House Environmental Regulation
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Abandoned oil wells | Air pollution | Air pollution control technology | Economic development | Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. | Federal funds | Hazardous substances | Texas Emissions Reduction Plan | Wastewater management |
Library Call Number:
Session:	87th R.S. (2021)
Online version:	View report [28 pages  File size: 1,043 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following: HB 1680, 87th R.S. relating to the regulation of on-site sewage disposal systems on certain leased land that is owned by the federal government; HB 4472, 87th R.S. relating to the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP); and SB 900, 87th R.S. which updates performance and safety standards for chemical storage vessels.
2.	Evaluate the allocation of TERP funds for effective air pollution reduction programs. Review which existing programs are over or under-subscribed and identify unrealized opportunities that would further program goals.
3.	Review recent passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Public Law No. 117-58), specifically funds that may bolster efforts to clean up polluted sites and plug wells and how federal funds can be used to complement state efforts on well plugging and pollution clean-up.
4.	Monitor newly adopted and proposed federal regulations that could directly impact economic development, manufacturing, and industrial activities that fall within the jurisdiction of the committee, including regulations adopted or proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Supporting documents
Committee:	House Environmental Regulation
Title:	Committee meeting handouts and testimony, May 25, 2022
Library Call Number:
Session:	87th R.S. (2021)
Online version:	View document [9 pages  File size: 115 kb]
Committee:	Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Aerospace industry | Air pollution | Air quality | Carbon dioxide | Clean Air Act | Economic development | Economic development incentives | Electric power plants | Electric Reliability Council of Texas | Environmental permits | Environmental protection | Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. | Environmental Quality, Texas Commission on | Ground level ozone | Oil fields | School districts | Spaceports | SpaceX | State administrative hearings | Tax incentives | Texas Emissions Reduction Plan | Theft |
Library Call Number:	L1836.84 N219E
Session:	84th R.S. (2015)
Online version:	View report [155 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Implementation of Federal Regulations: Study the impact and identify challenges Texas faces implementing proposed federal Environmental Protection Agency regulations, including, but not limited to the Clean Power Plan, Reduction of Methane & Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from oil and gas facilities, Ozone standards, Regional Haze, and Waters of the U.S. Make recommendations for legislative or constitutional action the committee considers necessary.
2.	Texas Emission Reduction Plan (TERP): Study and make recommendations regarding the use of Texas Emission Reduction Plan (TERP) funds, including reducing air emissions from mobile sources in response to changes in ozone standards.
3.	Economic Development: Evaluate the effectiveness and necessity of programs and resources currently used to support economic development in Texas. Make recommendations regarding continuation of effective strategies, modification of existing administrative or regulatory barriers, and the reduction or elimination of ineffective programs.
4.	Expedited Permitting: Evaluate the permitting process in Texas and neighboring states and make recommendations for eliminating unnecessary barriers and expediting the process to ensure that the regulatory process is consistent and predictable.
5.	ERCOT/PUC Electricity Issues: Conduct legislative oversight and monitoring of agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction. In this oversight and monitoring, the committee should: 1) identify and recommend opportunities to streamline programs or services and enhance grid safety while maintaining the mission of ERCOT and PUC and their programs; and 2) identify barriers ERCOT or PUC may have in their governance that may be appropriate to improve or eliminate.
6.	Oil Field Theft: Study and make recommendations for solving the oil field theft problems facing Texas, including identifying the proper mechanisms for increasing enforcement effectiveness.
7.	Monitoring Charge: Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development during the 84th R.S. and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, monitor the following: 1)Legislation relating to Texas aerospace incentives; 2) Expedited permitting; and 3) Electric utility rate adjustments.
Committee:	House Environmental Regulation
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Administrative Hearings, State Office of | Air pollution | Carbon dioxide | Coal-fired power plants | Electric Reliability Council of Texas | Electric utilities | Electricity supplies | Environmental permits | Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. | Environmental Quality, Texas Commission on | Manufacturing | State administrative hearings |
Library Call Number:	L1836.83 en89
Session:	83rd R.S. (2013)
Online version:	View report [39 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the environmental permitting processes at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), specifically the contested-case hearing process at the State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH) and the timelines associated with the process. Study the economic impact that the state's permitting processes have on Texas manufacturing sectors and how neighboring states' and the federal permitting processes and timelines compare to those in Texas.
2.	Conduct legislative oversight and monitoring of the agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction and the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 83rd Legislature. In conducting this oversight, the committee should: a. consider any reforms to state agencies to make them more responsive to Texas taxpayers and citizens; b. identify issues regarding the agency or its governance that may be appropriate to investigate, improve, remedy, or eliminate; c. determine whether an agency is operating in a transparent and efficient manner; and d. identify opportunities to streamline programs and services while maintaining the mission of the agency and its programs.
3.	Review the Environmental Protection Agency's newly proposed Clean Power Plan to determine the potential impact the proposed federal rule would have on Texas. Specifically, the Committee should examine how the proposed emissions reductions would impact the reliability of the state's electricity generation, the potential impact on the price of retail electricity and its affordability, and the potential impact on the economic development of the state. Additionally, the Committee should review the state's renewable energy and energy efficiency standards to determine if they are capable of contributing to meeting any proposed emissions reductions and determine what changes, if any, to these policies could help facilitate meeting the proposed emissions reductions.
Supporting documents
Committee:	House Environmental Regulation
Title:	Committee meeting handouts and testimony, September 29, 2014 (Environmental Protection Agency's proposed Clean Power Plan)
Library Call Number:
Session:	83rd R.S. (2013)
Online version:	View document [101 pages  File size: 3,803 kb]
Committee:	House Environmental Regulation
Title:	Committee meeting handouts and testimony, September 30, 2014 (Environmental Protection Agency's proposed Clean Power Plan)
Library Call Number:
Session:	83rd R.S. (2013)
Online version:	View document [190 pages  File size: 18,577 kb]
Committee:	Senate Business and Commerce
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Alternative energy | Broadband infrastructure | Building codes | Consumer credit and debt | Consumer Credit Commissioner, Office of | Credit service organizations | Droughts | Electric meters | Electric power plants | Electric Reliability Council of Texas | Electric utilities | Electric utility deregulation | Electricity supplies | Electricity transmission and distribution | Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. | Homeowners insurance | Insurance, Texas Department of | Job training programs | Lifeline | Municipally-owned utilities | Occupational licenses | Rural areas | Subprime lending | Telecommunications | Telecommunications deregulation | Texas Windstorm Insurance Association | Universal Service Fund | Water and wastewater utility rates and charges | Workforce |
Library Call Number:	L1836.83 B963
Session:	82nd R.S. (2011)
Online version:	View report [222 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Study the impact of drought, regulatory changes proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency, and changing market conditions on Texas' electrical market. Make recommendations, if needed to ensure continued access to reliable and affordable electricity. *
2.	Assess the impact of extreme drought conditions on electric generation capacity.
3.	Identify those regions of Texas that will be most affected by a lack of capacity.
4.	Analyze response plans and make recommendations to improve and expedite those plans.
5.	Study and make recommendations for workforce training programs in Texas to ensure that such programs meet business and worker needs. Specifically, study whether such programs target economic growth areas and future workforce needs of the health care, skilled trades, construction, manufacturing, aerospace, and information technology industries and help retain workers in those trades and fields.
6.	Study the state's approach to licensing and regulation of occupations to ensure protection of public welfare, trust, health, and safety and eliminate unnecessary, overly restrictive, or anti-competitive regulation. Review guidelines and other states' approaches for determining when regulation is necessary and make recommendations for improving Texas' regulatory system.
7.	Conduct a broad review of the Texas homeowners insurance market and make recommendations to improve transparency and consumer education, ensure fair practices, and lower rates. Specifically, consider the following: Compare Texas' homeowners insurance premiums with those of other states and identify the factors underlying Texas' premium levels and recommend steps that the Legislature may take to reduce homeowners' rates, if appropriate; Study strategies that increase awareness of state insurance resources to help consumers compare rates and coverage among various insurance providers Study the relationship between insurance premiums and construction costs, especially as associated with recovery from natural disasters, to ensure that consumers are treated fairly; Review the use by insurers, in rating and underwriting decisions, of customer inquiries regarding the general terms or conditions of, or coverage offered under, an insurance policy.
8.	Study the relationship between city governments and municipally-owned utilities, including any duplicative or redundant functions, the amounts and justifications required for transfer payments between the entities, and the benefits and disadvantages of alternative governance structures.
9.	Analyze the state of the telecommunications market in Texas, including the costs and benefits of full deregulation of the market; the impact and viability of the Texas Universal Service Fund and Provider of Last Resort requirements; the impact of SB 980, Regular Session, 82nd Legislature, relating to telecommunications regulation and rulemaking; the availability of broadband; telecommunications service discounts; and rights-­of-way charges. Make recommendations to enhance services, support the industry, and ensure adequate and affordable access for consumers.
10.	Review current and pending ERCOT protocols as they apply to all generation technology, and identify those protocols that may provide operational, administrative, or competitive advantages to any specific generation by fuel type. Consider the impact any revisions to the protocols may have on grid reliability and electricity rates. Make recommendations for revisions or statutory changes to limit distortions in the Texas electrical market.
11.	Monitor the implementation of legislation addressed by the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce, 82nd Legislature, Regular and Called Sessions, and make recommendations for any legislation needed to improve, enhance, and/or complete implementation. Specifically, review the implementation of HB 2592 and HB 2594 relating to payday lending, and make recommendations relating to consistency and coordination with local ordinances and federal law.
12.	Study whether advanced meters, or smart meters, that have been, and will be, installed in Texas have harmful effects on health. Report findings on whether an independent testing company perform an analysis on the safety of advanced meters should be commissioned and the appropriate organization to conduct such a study.
Committee:	House State Affairs
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Broadband infrastructure | Cable telecommunications providers | Comptroller of Public Accounts campaigns and elections | Computer networks | Computers | Council on Competitive Government | Electric Reliability Council of Texas | Electric utilities | Electricity supplies | Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. | Facilities Commission, Texas | Health and Human Services Commission, Texas | Information Resources, Texas Department of | Mercury | Occupational licenses | Privatization | Public Utility Commission of Texas | Railroad Commission of Texas | Rules and regulations | State agencies | State government contracts | State land | State purchasing | Transboundary pollution |
Library Call Number:	L1836.82 St29h
Session:	82nd R.S. (2011)
Online version:	View report [78 pages]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Examine the issue of resource adequacy in the Texas electricity market, federal and state interventions in the marketplace that may be negatively impacting future adequacy, and the best way to maintain resource adequacy.
2.	Examine whether current law ensures broadband provider access to an electric cooperative's utility poles and facilities pursuant to reasonable, cost-based, and nondiscriminatory rates, terms, and conditions. Study methods for improving access to electric cooperative utility poles to reduce unnecessary costs and delays for the delivery of broadband service to Texas consumers.
3.	Examine areas of potential privatization of state services in an effort to achieve a higher level of service and greater efficiency for Texas taxpayers. (Joint with the House Committee on Government Efficiency & Reform)
4.	Identify inefficiencies in the regulation of public utilities in order to minimize the cost of regulation to consumers.
5.	Examine methods of cloud computing technology to streamline agency operations and generate greater efficiencies for more cost-effective operations. (Joint with the House Committee on Technology)
6.	Examine state agency rulemaking and consider ways to improve procedural efficiencies and public transparency, and to better inform policymakers as to their use, purpose, and cost-effectiveness, including an examination of the financial and other impacts such regulations have on both the license holder and the public. (Joint with the House Committee on Government Efficiency & Reform)
7.	Monitor the agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction, including the implementation of SB 1048 regarding public-private partnerships on state-owned property.
8.	Study how businesses seeking to provide goods or services to the state interact with state agencies. Consider whether additional procedures are needed to ensure that goods and services obtained by the state are the best value. Determine whether additional disclosure and reporting requirements are necessary to ensure transparency, accountability, and to promote ethical business practices.
Committee:	House Environmental Regulation
Title:	Interim Report
Subjects:	Air pollution control technology | Air quality | Clean Air Act | Environmental permits | Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. | Industrial air pollution | Low-Income Vehicle Repair Assistance Program | Motor vehicle emissions tests | Motor vehicle pollution | Motor vehicle safety inspections | Texas Emissions Reduction Plan |
Library Call Number:	L1836.80 En89
Session:	80th R.S. (2007)
Online version:	View report [54 pages  File size: 6,595 kb]
Charges:	This report should address the charges below.
1.	Work to create and maintain a market-based approach to the application and implementation of Green Chemistry initiatives for the State of Texas.
2.	Evaluate capabilities at public and private universities relating to the potential formation of dedicated Green Chemistry programs.
3.	Collaborate with businesses to identify current Green Chemistry efforts that are already taking place, as well as what the incentives and disincentives are for businesses to make this shift. Examine and identify the environmental and economic benefits of promoting Green Chemistry initiatives.
4.	Examine funding options for a statewide Green Chemistry initiative.
5.	Work with various state agencies such as the General Land Office, the Railroad Commission of Texas, and the Department of Agriculture in order to facilitate the promotion of Green Chemistry practices.
6.	Examine the obstacles that must be overcome for Green Chemistry to be effective; identify solutions to such obstacles.
7.	Study the Clean Air Act State Implementation Plan (SIP) to determine if: Data is being collected adequately Recent changes to the SIP are brining Texas closer to the federal Environmental Protection Agency requirements; and There are any midcourse corrections necessary to achieve EPA requirements. As background, examine and document the trend in levels of air quality in Texas since 1980.
8.	Examine the progress of the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan, the Low-Income Vehicle Repair Assistance, Retrofit, and Accelerated Vehicle Retirement Program and the Texas Environmental Research Consortium.
9.	Study the air permitting process to examine, define, or interpret the following: The role of public input in the standard air permitting process; The requirements and interpretation of what constitutes Best Available Control Technology; The requirements for monitoring ambient air in the beginning stages of the permitting process; The requirements for modeling future air pollution in the event that the proposed plant is constructed; The issue of the cumulative impact of different air pollution sources; The use of permits-by-rule and flexible permits in some cases; and The requirements for permit renewals and the process for granting or denying permit renewals.
10.	Examine the penalties and sanctions imposed on vehicle inspection and emissions testing facilities.
11.	Monitor the agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction.
Committee:	Senate Natural Resources
Title:	Interim report - Interstate ozone
Library Catalog Title:	Interim report to the 75th Legislature : Interstate Ozone Transport Agreement.
Subjects:	Air pollution | Air quality | Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. | Ground level ozone | Ozone Transport Assessment Group |
Library Call Number:	L1836.74 n219o
Session:	74th R.S. (1995)
Online version:	View report [22 pages  File size: 1,063 kb]
Charge:	This report should address the charge below.
1.	Monitor the interstate ozone transport agreement currently being developed by the Environmental Protection Agency and study the impact of the proposed agreement on Texas.
Supporting documents
Committee:	Joint Oil Spills and Water Pollution Abatement
Title:	Proclamation
Library Catalog Title:	Proclamation
Library Call Number:	L1800.1 p926
Session:	71st R.S. (1989)
Online version:	View document [1 pages  File size: 112 kb]

* This represents an abstract of the report contents. Charge text is incomplete or unavailable.

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