Sierra Club Outlines Legislative Priorities
January 9, 2001, marks the start of the 77th session of the Texas Legislature. The 31-member senate and 150-member house have 140 days to create and pass laws that will impact the people of Texas and our environment.
Although it is impossible to know exactly what legislation will come up over the next few months, the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club outlined the following list of priorities for this session:
Clean Air
Legislation to bring a final end to the “grandfathering” of dirty old industrial plants in Texas that do not meet modern pollution control requirements, and any legislation important for the adoption and implementation of effective air quality clean-up plans for Texas regions suffering from air pollution problems.
Land & Wildlife Conservation
Legislative initiatives to increase dramatically the public funds available at the state level to enhance, manage, and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations, and other legislative initiatives to protect fish and wildlife habitat in the state.
Radioactive Waste Management
Legislative initiatives to achieve proper management of the low-level radioactive wastes generated in Texas, including an emphasis on:
- reductions in the volume of waste generated, assured isolation rather than burial of those wastes that are produced,
- minimization of transportation risks associated with those wastes,
- meaningful public involvement in waste management decisions,
- maintenance of the requirement that a public entity hold the license for a long-term waste disposal or storage facility, and
- separation of the regulatory and management responsibilities for those wastes among state agencies.
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission Reform
Legislation to achieve meaningful reform of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), with a special focus on increasing funding for needed pollution control programs, enhancing public participation and citizen rights in agency decision-making, strengthening enforcement of environmental laws, and revamping agency structures and activities to promote clean air and clean water and protect public health.
Water Resources Management & Protection
Legislation to assure that environmental water needs are protected and promoted in the regional and state water planning process, to promote water conservation, to promote proper groundwater management and protection of groundwater quality, and to strengthen the regulation of confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to lessen their impacts on water quality.
To keep up on environmental legislation this session, join the Sierra Club’s e-mail alert list by sending a message stating you would like to be added to the E-mail Alert List to scls@igc.org.
