House Bill No. 3298 amends the Health and Safety Code to enhance air quality permit requirements for concrete batch plants in Texas. The bill introduces new notification requirements for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regarding applications for construction and operating permits related to concrete batch plants. Specifically, the TCEQ must now provide notice of the application, any public comment period, public meetings, hearings, and decisions made by the executive director or commission. Additionally, the bill modifies the distance requirements for the central baghouse from 440 yards to 880 yards from residences, schools, or places of worship, thereby increasing the buffer zone to mitigate potential air quality impacts.

The bill also outlines stringent operational standards for concrete batch plants, including requirements for maintaining production records, equipping silos with filtration systems, and ensuring that emissions control devices meet specific performance standards. Other provisions include mandates for proper maintenance of equipment, dust suppression measures, and limitations on production capacity. The changes in law will apply only to permits filed with the TCEQ on or after the effective date of September 1, 2025, ensuring that existing applications are governed by the previous regulations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 382.0516, Health and Safety Code 382.05198 (Health and Safety Code 382)