Senate Bill No. 1586, introduced by Schwertner, amends the Water Code by adding Section 26.054, which establishes specific conditions for the issuance of permits for "package plants," defined as pre-manufactured wastewater treatment facilities with a capacity of less than 500,000 gallons per day. The bill stipulates that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) cannot issue a permit for a package plant located within 1,000 feet of a municipal wastewater line. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate compliance with several criteria, including implementing security measures, having adequate financial assurance for maintenance, and obtaining denial of service from nearby permitted facilities.

The bill also outlines further requirements for applicants, such as ensuring that the cumulative discharge from the proposed package plant does not lead to increased environmental degradation and that the applicant has no outstanding fees or unresolved violations with the TCEQ. This new section will apply only to permit applications filed on or after the effective date of the Act, which is set for September 1, 2025.

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