Marked Agenda
Commissioners' Work Session (Open meeting)
Tuesday June 12, 2001
9:30 a.m.
Room 201S, Building E
12100 Park 35 Circle
  1. Discussion of the Monthly Enforcement Report for April 2001. Anne Dobbs, Enforcement Division presented this issue. No action taken.


  2. Discussion of Fiscal Year 2002 Operating Budget. Machelle Pharr, CFO, and Butch Smith, Budget and Planning Division, presented this issue. Staff was directed to return to a future work session with a final operating budget for consideration.


  3. Docket No. 2001-0605-RUL. Consideration for publication of the proposed new 30 TAC Chapter 7, Section 7.125, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among the Office of the Secretary of State (SOS), Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC), Texas Historical Commission (THC), Texas General Land Office (GLO), Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), and Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC). The proposed rulemaking would adopt as a rule an MOU among the six state agencies regarding the permitting of natural gas pipelines that cross the border between the Texas and Mexico. Hector Mendieta, Policy and Standards Section, presented this issue. The Commission approved publication.


  4. Consideration of request by staff for Commission direction on Guidance for Assessing Texas Surface and Finished Drinking Water Quality Data, 2002, and Methodology for Developing the Texas List of Impaired Water Bodies. Karen Atkinson, SEA Group and Steve Spaw, Monitoring Operations presented these issues. The Commission supports the three staff recommendations concerning proposed modifications to the Guidance for Assessing Texas Surface and Finished Drinking Water Quality Data, 2002, and Methodology for Developing the Texas List of Impaired Water Bodies and supports staff's implementation of the new guidance in preparing the 2002 water quality assessment.


  5. Consideration for approval of the submission to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency a revised year 2000 Clean Water Act Section 303(d) list of impaired water bodies. Karen Atkinson, SEA Group and Steve Spaw, Monitoring Operations presented this issue. Staff recommends leaving three segments,Upper Prairie Dog Town Fork Red River (Segment 229), Chambers Creek Above Richland-Chambers Reservoir (Segment 814), Cedar Bayou Above Tidal (Segment 902), on the 303(d) list based upon them not meeting TMDL criteria. Continued listing will trigger additional studies to identify causes for the impairments. The Commission supports this recommendation. Staff believes five other segments, Rita Blanca Lake (Segment 105), Caddo Lake (Segment 401), Rabbit Creek (Segment 505D), Lake Fork Reservoir (Segment 512), and Neches River Above Lake Palestine (Segment 606), meet the latest Texas surface water quality standards as revised by the Commission in August 2000 but not yet approved by EPA. Staff was directed to ask the EPA to examine those specific segments within the year 2000 Clean Water Act Section 303(d) inventory list with respect to approval of the revised water quality standards and to de-list as appropriate.


  6. Discussion of the implementation of the state's Motor Vehicle Emissions Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) program in preparation for a joint work session with Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission and related issues. Randy Wood, Deputy Director OEPAA and Hazel Barbour, Technical Analysis presented this issue. Staff will continue discussion of this issue at a future work session. No action taken.


  7. Discussion of report by staff regarding the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission Sunset Legislation (HB 2912) and related issues. Terri Seales, Executive Assistant to the Executive Director presented this issue. No action taken.


  8. Consideration of legislative issues potentially affecting the TNRCC and actions taken by the 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. Steve Minick, IGR, Randy Wood, OEPAA, and Julia Rathgeber, Strategic Assessment Division presented this issue. No action taken.


  9. Planning for the next Commissioners' Work Session. The next work session is July 13. This is an addition to the tentative schedule. TMDLs, waste generation fees, FY 2002 operating budget, motor vehicle I/M, and the standing issues are listed for discussion or consideration. The July 27 work session is cancelled. On August 10 topics of the Environmental Council of States fall meeting are listed for discussion or consideration. Staff was directed to schedule a fall date for a joint work session with the Texas Soil Board and to prepare a tentative work session schedule for September.


Marked Agenda
Joint Commissioners' Work Session
between the Texas Department of Public Safety and the
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (Open meeting)

Tuesday, June 12, 2001
1:30 p.m.
Room 201S, Building E
12100 Park 35 Circle

  1. Consideration and discussion of issues related to the implementation of the state's Motor Vehicle Emission Inspection and Maintenance program by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission and the Texas Department of Public Safety, including testing network, contract options, and legislation adopted by the 77th legislature. Randy Wood, Deputy Director OEPAA and Hazel Barbour, Technical Analysis of the TNRCC and Major Ricky Smith, of the DPS presented this issue. TNRCC Commissioners approved staff recommendation to competitively bid the Texas Data Link System contract for implementation on May 1, 2002. TNRCC Commissioners approved a multiple vendor open market approach for the sale or lease of testing equipment to inspection stations in order to meet acceleration simulation mode and onboard diagnostic testing requirements.