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By: Vasut (Senate Sponsor - Huffman) |
H.B. No. 3604 |
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(In the Senate - Received from the House May 8, 2023; |
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May 9, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Water, |
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Agriculture & Rural Affairs; May 19, 2023, reported favorably by |
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the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 19, 2023, sent to printer.) |
Click here to see the committee vote |
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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the cleaning of a structure used to grow oysters for |
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cultivated oyster mariculture. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 26, Water Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 26.0406 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 26.0406. GENERAL PERMITS FOR AQUACULTURE; EXEMPTION |
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FOR CLEANING STRUCTURES USED FOR GROWING OYSTERS. (a) A general |
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permit for aquaculture issued by the commission must allow the |
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holder of a cultivated oyster mariculture permit under Chapter 75, |
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Parks and Wildlife Code, to discharge into waters of this state |
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waste related to the cleaning of a structure used to grow oysters |
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for cultivated oyster mariculture in accordance with Subsection |
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(b). |
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(b) A cultivated oyster mariculture permit holder cleaning |
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a structure as described by Subsection (a): |
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(1) must clean the structure at the location where the |
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permit holder is authorized to operate and only with water from that |
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location; |
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(2) prior to use in cleaning, may not alter the |
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cleaning water in any way, including with the addition of soap, |
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chemicals, or any other similar substance; and |
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(3) in consultation with the Texas Parks and Wildlife |
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Department, must comply with all other permit conditions |
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established by the commission. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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