Marked Agenda
Commissioners' Work Session (Open meeting)
Friday, October 6, 2000
9:30 a.m.
Room 201S, Building E
12100 Park 35 Circle

OLD BUSINESS

  1. Docket No. 2000-0827-SIP. Consideration for publication of, and hearing upon, an agreement with Southwest Airlines, Inc., and corresponding revisions to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for ozone control. The agreement and revised SIP would make federally enforceable certain local ozone precursor emission reductions of nitrogen oxides from sources at the William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Harris County, Texas. Kerri Rowland, OLS and Chuck Mueller, SIP presented this issue. The Commissioners approved the request for publication as presented. Staff was directed to prepare and present a proposal for withdrawal of the proposed ground support equipment rule at the October 18 Commissioners' Agenda.


NEW BUSINESS

  1. Consideration of Publication to solicit Public Comment on the Draft TMDLs for Legacy Pollutants in the Arroyo Colorado and Legacy Pollutants in Clear Creek. This issue was presented by Chuck Mueller, SIP and Mel Vargas, TMDL Section. This issue was approved as presented.


  2. Discussion of the Houston-Galveston Area state implementation plan including review of public comments and discussion of additional pollution reduction strategies, such as the California diesel engine rule, the California gas can rule, and emissions reductions from federal actions. This issue was presented by Chuck Mueller, SIP. No action was taken on this issue. However, staff was directed to prepare a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency reiterating the difficulty involved in implementing an emissions reduction plan when 30% to 40% of the total emissions, due to such activities as airplane operations, interstate truck traffic, and Houston ship channel traffic, are out of this agency's control to reduce.


  3. Consideration of issues related to regulation of surface facilities associated with non-commercial, non-hazardous Class I injection wells. This issue was postponed until the October 20 work session.


  4. Docket No. 2000-0956-RUL. Consideration for publication of the proposed repeal of existing 30 TAC Section 7.103, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (commission) and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and proposed new Section 7.103, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (commission), the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA).
  5. The proposed rulemaking implements certain provisions of Senate Bill 873, 76th Legislature, 1999, requiring an MOU between the three state agencies charged with regulating aquaculture. (Yvonna Pierce) (Rule Log No. 1999-035-007-WT) This issue was approved for publication.

  6. Update and discussion of issues regarding agency's response to the drought. This issue was presented by Todd Chenoweth, Water Permits and Mike Lannen, Water Permits and Resource Management. There was no action taken on this item.


  7. Update and discussion of issues regarding WaterSmart Campaign. This issue was presented by Andy Saentz, Agency Communications and Linda Fernandez, of the Fernandez Group. Briefly, WaterSmart is a joint initiative of the TNRCC and the Texas Water Development Board, with additional funding from the Governor's Office and assistance from the Division of Emergency Management. The message delivered by the WaterSmart campaign is simple and effective tips water users can follow to conserve water. Supporting the Water Smart effort is a statewide campaign of TV and radio announcements in both English and Spanish. The stations are donating much of the air time through a special program of the Texas Association of Broadcasters. The centerpiece of the WaterSmart effort is a tool kit of resources which utilities can use to inform their customers about the workings and limitations of water systems. The kit contains a T-shirt, bumper sticker, audio cassette, video cassette, and several informational pamphlets. More information is available at https://www.lcra.org/water/watersmart/Pages/default.aspx No action was taken on this issue.


  8. Consideration of activities and comments associated with State Implementation Plans and update on the 8-hour ozone designation. This issue was not discussed.


  9. Consideration of legislative implementation affecting the TNRCC and other issues related to actions taken by the 76th Texas Legislature. The commission may also meet in closed meeting to receive legal advice regarding these matters, or any of the above matters, as authorized by Section 551.071 of the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Government Code. Any commission action, decision, or vote on these matters will be made in open meeting in accordance with Section 551.102 of the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551 of the Government Code. No action taken on this issue.


  10. Planning for the next Commissioners' Work Session. Items scheduled for the October 20 Commissioners' Work Session, in addition to the standing issues, are Enforcement Reports, Marine Dockside Emissions, Class I injection wells, new air permits net emissions effects on SIP for non-attainment areas, an overview of the Houston SIP comments, and discussion of additional upcoming legislative issues not part of the Sunset Commission process.