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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1.02, Chapter 409, Acts of the 61st |
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Legislature, Regular Session, 1969, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1.02. FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF POLICY. It is |
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hereby found and declared that the quality of waters in Chambers, |
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Galveston, and Harris Counties is materially affected by the |
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disposal of wastes throughout those counties; that regional |
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approaches to studying water pollution in these counties, to |
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planning corrective and preventive measures, to providing |
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coordinated facilities for waste disposal, and to regulating waste |
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disposal would be far more effective than efforts on a county-wide, |
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city-wide, or smaller scale; that solid wastes, as well as other |
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kinds of waste, may impair water quality by seepage, drainage, and |
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otherwise; that creation of the Gulf Coast [Waste Disposal] |
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Authority would advance the established policy of the state to |
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maintain the quality of the waters in the state consistent with the |
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public health and public enjoyment thereof, the propagation and |
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protection of terrestrial and aquatic life, the operation of |
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existing industries, and the economic development of the state; and |
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that impending shortage of water in the district for beneficial |
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uses requires that all reasonable measures be taken to prevent and |
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abate water pollution, and to reclaim polluted water for beneficial |
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uses. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1.03(a)(1), Chapter 409, Acts of the |
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61st Legislature, Regular Session, 1969, is amended to read as |
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follows: |
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(1) "Authority" means the Gulf Coast [Waste Disposal] |
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Authority created by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. Section 2.01, Chapter 409, Acts of the 61st |
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Legislature, Regular Session, 1969, is amended to read as follows: |
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Section 2.01. CREATION OF AUTHORITY. There is hereby |
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created, pursuant to Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas |
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Constitution, a conservation and reclamation district to be known |
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as the Gulf Coast [Waste Disposal] Authority, which shall be a |
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governmental agency and body politic and corporate of the State of |
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Texas. A confirmation election shall not be necessary. |
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SECTION 4. Chapter 409, Acts of the 61st Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 1969, is amended by adding Section 2.015 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 2.015. NAME CHANGE. A reference in law to the Gulf |
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Coast Waste Disposal Authority means the Gulf Coast Authority. |
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SECTION 5. Section 8104.006, Special District Local Laws |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 8104.006. RELATIONSHIP TO GULF COAST [WASTE DISPOSAL] |
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AUTHORITY. The rights, powers, privileges, and functions granted |
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to the authority under this chapter are subject to the powers |
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granted to the Gulf Coast [Waste Disposal] Authority in Chapter |
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409, Acts of the 61st Legislature, Regular Session, 1969 (Article |
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7621d-2, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), to provide disposal |
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systems. |
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SECTION 6. Section 8104.205, Special District Local Laws |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 8104.205. CONSENT REQUIRED FOR WASTE TREATMENT AND |
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DISPOSAL FACILITIES. Before acquiring or constructing a waste |
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treatment or disposal facility, the authority must obtain the |
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consent of the: |
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(1) Gulf Coast [Waste Disposal] Authority; or |
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(2) Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, if the |
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consent of the Gulf Coast [Waste Disposal] Authority is |
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unreasonably withheld or delayed. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |