Bill Text: TX HB2227 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the analysis of inspection and maintenance requirements for air quality permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for certain oil and gas facilities.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-09 - Referred to Environmental Regulation [HB2227 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB2227-Introduced.html
88R6927 ANG-F | ||
By: Reynolds | H.B. No. 2227 |
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relating to the analysis of inspection and maintenance requirements | ||
for air quality permits issued by the Texas Commission on | ||
Environmental Quality for certain oil and gas facilities. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "commission" means the | ||
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. | ||
SECTION 2. ANALYSIS OF INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE | ||
REQUIREMENTS FOR OIL AND GAS FACILITIES. (a) This section applies | ||
only to a rule or requirement: | ||
(1) relating to a permit by rule or a standard permit | ||
for a facility described by Section 382.051961(a), Health and | ||
Safety Code; and | ||
(2) that: | ||
(A) is a rule or requirement of the commission in | ||
effect on June 1, 2023; or | ||
(B) is a proposed or approved federal rule or | ||
requirement that may be implemented before December 31, 2023. | ||
(b) The commission shall examine rules and requirements | ||
described by Subsection (a) of this section governing: | ||
(1) inspection and maintenance programs, including | ||
programs that use optical gas imaging, for the detection and repair | ||
of leaks from all valves, pump seals, flanges, compressor seals, | ||
pressure relief valves, open-ended lines, tanks, and other process | ||
and operation components of the facility that could result in | ||
fugitive emissions; | ||
(2) the use of venting and flaring; | ||
(3) emissions of volatile organic compounds from | ||
storage tanks that have the potential to emit more than one ton of | ||
volatile organic compounds per year; | ||
(4) emissions of nitrogen oxides from compressor | ||
engines with more than 100 horsepower; | ||
(5) maintenance requirements and best practices for | ||
compressor stations; and | ||
(6) emissions from and maintenance of pneumatic | ||
devices and controllers between a wellhead and a natural gas | ||
processing plant. | ||
(c) The commission shall prepare a report that: | ||
(1) addresses issues raised concerning the rules or | ||
requirements described by Subsection (b) of this section; | ||
(2) addresses the staff, technical assistance, and | ||
other resources needed to incorporate any proposed or approved | ||
federal rule involving emissions of methane and other pollutants | ||
from facilities described by Subsection (a)(1) of this section into | ||
commission rules under the state implementation plan; and | ||
(3) suggests options for improving safety, preventing | ||
air emissions from oil and gas equipment, including methane and | ||
other useful products, and reducing emissions from facilities | ||
described by Subsection (a)(1) of this section. | ||
(d) In suggesting options for improvement for the purposes | ||
of Subsection (c)(3) of this section, the commission may consider: | ||
(1) both regulatory and incentive approaches, | ||
including approaches taken in other leading oil and gas producing | ||
states that would lead to improvements in air quality and public | ||
health; and | ||
(2) the use of federal or state funds, including funds | ||
available through the methane emissions and waste reduction | ||
incentive program (42 U.S.C. Section 7436) or the Texas emissions | ||
reduction plan, to help reduce emissions and comply with state and | ||
federal rules. | ||
(e) The commission may cooperate with the Railroad | ||
Commission of Texas in developing the report and obtaining public | ||
comment under Subsection (f) of this section. | ||
(f) Not later than January 1, 2024, the commission shall | ||
issue and make available for public comment a preliminary report. | ||
The commission may hold meetings to consider public comment. After | ||
considering public comment, if any, but not later than June 1, 2024, | ||
the commission shall post on its Internet website the final report. | ||
(g) Nothing in this section prevents the commission from | ||
adopting rules on the issues contained in the study. | ||
SECTION 3. EXPIRATION. This Act expires August 31, 2025. | ||
SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September | ||
1, 2023. |