Bill Text: TX HB897 | 2021-2022 | 87th 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) 2021-04-19 - Left pending in committee [HB897 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB897-Introduced.html
| 87R1168 JAM-F | ||
| By: Reynolds | H.B. No. 897 | |
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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. Subchapter C, Chapter 382, Health and Safety | ||
| Code, is amended by adding Section 382.051965 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 382.051965. 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); and | ||
| (2) that: | ||
| (A) is a rule or requirement of the commission in | ||
| effect on June 1, 2021; or | ||
| (B) is a proposed or approved federal rule or | ||
| requirement that may be implemented before December 31, 2021. | ||
| (b) The commission shall examine rules and requirements | ||
| described by Subsection (a) 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); and | ||
| (2) 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). | ||
| (d) In suggesting options for improvement for the purposes | ||
| of Subsection (c)(2), the commission may consider 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. | ||
| (e) The commission may cooperate with the Railroad | ||
| Commission of Texas in developing the report and obtaining public | ||
| comment under Subsection (f). | ||
| (f) Not later than January 1, 2022, 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, 2022, | ||
| 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. | ||
| (h) This section expires August 31, 2023. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | ||
