MINUTES 
                                         
                      SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES 
                           Tuesday, February 16, 1999 
                                     3:30 pm 
                                 Senate Chamber 
                                         
                                      ***** 
          
         Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule  
         11.11, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Natural  
         Resources was held on Tuesday, February 16, 1999 in the Senate  
         Chamber at Austin, Texas.   
          
                                      ***** 
          
         MEMBERS PRESENT:                        MEMBERS ABSENT: 
         Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair      Senator Gonzalo  
                                                 Barrientos 
         Senator Kenneth Armbrister              Senator Bill Ratliff 
         Senator Teel Bivins 
         Senator Tom Haywood 
         Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. 
          
                                      ***** 
          
         The Chair called the meeting to order at 3:40 pm.  There being  
         a quorum present, the following business was transacted.   
          
         Senator Lucio moved that the Minutes from the previous hearing  
         be adopted.  There being no objection, it was so ordered.   
          
         The Chair explained to the Members the proposed recommendation  
         that the Committee would send to the  Senate Finance Committee  
         regarding Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Authority in  
         Texas.  The Committee moved to adopt the following  
         recommendation:  "In order to fulfill the state's  
         responsibility for proper management of low-level radioactive  
         waste generated within Texas and as outlined in the Compact,  
         the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Authority  
         should continue as a state agency with a mission of pursuing a  
         public-private partnership to obtain a permit for the disposal  
         and /or long-term management of low-level radioactive waste in  
         the state.  The Committee also believes that the Sunset  
         process is the appropriate venue for in-depth analysis of the  
         Authority and its future.  The Authority is scheduled for  
         Sunset review to begin this interim with a report due to the  
         Legislature in 2001." 
          
         At 3:42 pm, Senator Bivins assumed the chair. 
          
         Senator Brown laid out SB 115 and explained the bill. 
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list. 
          
         Senator Brown moved that SB 115 be reported favorably to the  
         full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 4 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting, and 3 absent. 
          
         Senator Brown laid out SB 133 and explained the bill. 
          
         No public testimony was taken on the bill. 
          
         Senator Brown sent up a Committee Substitute and moved  
         adoption; without objection, the substitute was adopted.   
         Senator Brown moved that CSSB 133 be reported favorably to the  
         full Senate.  The motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0  
         nays, 0 present not voting, and 2 absent. 
          
         Senator Brown laid out SB 392 and explained the bill.  
          
         Witnesses testifying and registering on the bill are shown on  
         the attached list. 
          
         Senator Brown moved that SB 392 be reported favorably to the  
         full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass and be  
         printed.  The motion carried with a vote of 5 ayes, 0 nays, 0  
         present not voting,  and 2 absent.   
          
         Senator Brown moved that CSSB 133 and SB 392 be recommended  
         for placement on the Local & Uncontested Calendar; without  
         objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         There being no further business, at 4:10 pm Senator Armbrister  
         moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of  
         the Chair.  Without objection, it was so ordered. 
          
         ___________________________                        
                                                           _____________ 
                                                           ___________ 
         Senator J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair                     Carol  
                                                                McGarah 
                                                                , Clerk