The purpose of this chapter is to safeguard the state ’s air resources from pollution by controlling or abating air pollution and emissions of air contaminants, consistent with the protection of public health, general welfare, and physical property, including the esthetic enjoyment of air resources by the public and the maintenance of adequate visibility. The Act is composed of the following subchapters: A- General Provisions providing policy orientations and definitions; B- Powers and Duties of Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regulating the authority of the Commission as the institution responsible for administering this chapter, establishing the level of quality to be maintained in the state ’s air, controling the quality of the state ’s air and in general, having all the powers necessary or convenient to carry out its responsibilities. The commission shall prepare and develop the state air control plan, designate air quality control regions, develop an inventory of emissions, levy a clean fuel incentive surcharge, maintain an air pollutant watch list, adopt rules consistent with the policy of this chapter, may allow the use of natural gas and other alternative fuels, as well as select-use technologies, control and prohibit the outdoor burning of waste and combustible material, adopt rules on commercial infectious waste incinerators and control of emissions from facilities that handle certain agricultural products, determines sampling methods and procedures, and maintain the air control account. Further, the commission has research, inspection, and investigation powers and may issue orders and make determinations as necessary; C - Permits laying down rules and rules of procedure concerning permitting authority of commission; D- Penalties and Enforcement concerning prohibited unauthorized emissions; E- Authority of Local Governments giving local government the same power and subject to the same restrictions as the commission to inspect the air and to enter public or private property in its territorial jurisdiction to determine if the level of air contaminants in an area and the emissions from a source meet the levels set by the commission or a municipality’s governing body. G- Vehicle Emissions authorizing the commission by rule to establish a vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program requiring emissions-related inspections of motor vehicles to be performed at inspection facilities. Further, the subchapter authorizes: the development of a remote sensing program component for enforcing vehicle emissions testing and standards; adoption of rules for INSPECTION EQUIPMENT AND PROCEDURES; data collection and reporting, inspection stations; quality control audits, low-income vehicle repair assistance, retrofit, and accelerated vehicle retirement program; implementation guidelines and requirements; emissions reduction credit; H- Vehicle Emissions Programs in Certain Counties; I- Programs to Encourage the Use of Innovative Technologies; J- Federal Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule authorizing the commission to adopt rules as necessary to comply with any federal greenhouse gas reporting requirements, and to establish an inventory of voluntary actions taken by businesses in the state of Texas to reduce carbon dioxide emissions; and K- Offshore Geologic Storage of Carbon Dioxide authorizing the commission to adopt standards for the location, construction, maintenance, monitoring, and operation of a carbon dioxide repository.
Estados Unidos de América · 1989-09-01