HBA-JLV H.C.R. 213 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.C.R. 213 By: Chavez Environmental Regulation 3/25/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In 1991, the El Paso area was classified as a serious nonattainment area for the one-hour ozone standard in accordance with the federal Clean Air Act (CAA). El Paso is the only city in Texas that does not meet the national standards for carbon monoxide and particulate matter. El Paso's ability to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) is adversely affected by its proximity to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, the fact that the cities are surrounded by mountains that form a common air basin, and the high levels of emissions originating in Ciudad Juarez that contribute to the high concentration of certain criteria pollutants in the basin. The CAA, in addressing nonattainment areas along international borders, provides that the state implementation plan (SIP) must be approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for any metropolitan area able to demonstrate that the area would be in compliance with the NAAQS for any of the regulated pollutants if not for emissions from outside of the United States. The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) has submitted evidence to the EPA that the El Paso area would be in compliance with the NAAQS if not for emissions from Mexico. Despite the evidence, the EPA has not yet approved the SIP for the El Paso area. House Concurrent Resolution 213 requests the Congress of the United States to urge the EPA to redesignate El Paso from a nonattainment area to an attainment area. 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 Concurrent Resolution 213 requests the Congress of the United States to urge the United States Environmental Protection Agency to redesignate El Paso from a nonattainment area to an attainment area.