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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the analysis of inspection and maintenance requirements |
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for air quality permits issued by the Texas Commission on |
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Environmental Quality for certain oil and gas facilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 382, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 382.051965 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 382.051965. ANALYSIS OF INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE |
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REQUIREMENTS FOR OIL AND GAS FACILITIES. (a) This section applies |
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only to a rule or requirement: |
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(1) relating to a permit by rule or a standard permit |
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for a facility described by Section 382.051961(a); and |
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(2) that: |
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(A) is a rule or requirement of the commission in |
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effect on June 1, 2021; or |
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(B) is a proposed or approved federal rule or |
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requirement that may be implemented before December 31, 2021. |
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(b) The commission shall examine rules and requirements |
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described by Subsection (a) governing: |
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(1) inspection and maintenance programs, including |
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programs that use optical gas imaging, for the detection and repair |
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of leaks from all valves, pump seals, flanges, compressor seals, |
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pressure relief valves, open-ended lines, tanks, and other process |
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and operation components of the facility that could result in |
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fugitive emissions; |
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(2) the use of venting and flaring; |
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(3) emissions of volatile organic compounds from |
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storage tanks that have the potential to emit more than one ton of |
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volatile organic compounds per year; |
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(4) emissions of nitrogen oxides from compressor |
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engines with more than 100 horsepower; |
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(5) maintenance requirements and best practices for |
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compressor stations; and |
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(6) emissions from and maintenance of pneumatic |
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devices and controllers between a wellhead and a natural gas |
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processing plant. |
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(c) The commission shall prepare a report that: |
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(1) addresses issues raised concerning the rules or |
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requirements described by Subsection (b); and |
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(2) suggests options for improving safety, preventing |
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air emissions from oil and gas equipment, including methane and |
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other useful products, and reducing emissions from facilities |
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described by Subsection (a)(1). |
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(d) In suggesting options for improvement for the purposes |
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of Subsection (c)(2), the commission may consider both regulatory |
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and incentive approaches, including approaches taken in other |
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leading oil and gas producing states that would lead to |
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improvements in air quality and public health. |
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(e) The commission may cooperate with the Railroad |
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Commission of Texas in developing the report and obtaining public |
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comment under Subsection (f). |
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(f) Not later than January 1, 2022, the commission shall |
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issue and make available for public comment a preliminary report. |
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The commission may hold meetings to consider public comment. After |
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considering public comment, if any, but not later than June 1, 2022, |
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the commission shall post on its Internet website the final report. |
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(g) Nothing in this section prevents the commission from |
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adopting rules on the issues contained in the study. |
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(h) This section expires August 31, 2023. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |