By: Fraser S.B. No. 875
 
  (Hancock, Smith of Harris, Chisum)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to compliance with state and federal environmental permits
  as a defense to certain actions for nuisance or trespass.
  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 7, Water Code, is amended
  by adding Section 7.257 to read as follows:
         Sec. 7.257.  DEFENSE TO NUISANCE OR TRESPASS.  (a)  A
  person, as defined by Section 382.003, Health and Safety Code, who
  is subject to an administrative, civil, or criminal action brought
  under this chapter for nuisance or trespass arising from greenhouse
  gas emissions has an affirmative defense to that action if the
  person's actions that resulted in the alleged nuisance or trespass
  were authorized by a rule, permit, order, license, certificate,
  registration, approval, or other form of authorization issued by
  the commission or the federal government or an agency of the federal
  government and:
               (1)  the person was in substantial compliance with that
  rule, permit, order, license, certificate, registration, approval,
  or other authorization while the alleged nuisance or trespass was
  occurring; or
               (2)  the commission or the federal government or an
  agency of the federal government exercised enforcement discretion
  in connection with the actions that resulted in the alleged
  nuisance or trespass.
         (b)  This section does not apply to nuisance actions related
  to a noxious odor.
         SECTION 2.  Section 7.257, Water Code, as added by this Act,
  applies only to an administrative enforcement action, a civil
  action, or a prosecution that is commenced on or after the effective
  date of this Act.  An administrative enforcement action, a civil
  action, or a prosecution commenced before the effective date of
  this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the action or
  prosecution commenced, and that law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2011.