Bill > SB1290

This bill requires operators of small wastewater treatment facilities (called "package plants" with a capacity under 500,000 gallons per day) to develop and implement comprehensive emergency preparedness plans to ensure continued operation during extended power outages lasting more than 24 hours, particularly after natural disasters. Operators must submit these plans to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for review and approval, with the plan potentially including strategies such as maintaining automatic backup generators, sharing generator capacity with other facilities, using portable generators, implementing on-site electrical generation, hardening electrical transmission systems, or other TCEQ-approved alternatives. The bill mandates that each plan demonstrate the facility's capability to provide wastewater treatment services during emergencies, and requires the TCEQ to create a standardized template for these plans, provide assistance to operators, and inspect facilities to ensure compliance. The implementation timeline requires operators to submit their plans by May 1, 2026, and implement approved plans by September 1, 2026, with the TCEQ adopting necessary rules by January 1, 2026. The bill aims to improve the resilience of small wastewater treatment facilities during potential power disruptions, with the TCEQ considering potential financial impacts on customers and coordinating with the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB1290