10. SB 1591 3rd Reading

Passage. 4/22/97, p 1236 CSSB 1591 passed 24-5.

YCT Yea. Currently, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a project called “XL,” which is advertised to allow companies to seek alternatives to current laws in return for a higher standard of environmental performance. However, one major problem with the EPA’s approach is that there is no statutory authority for EPA to waive existing laws. Companies are uncomfortable with EPA’s offer of compliance agreements or on-site specific rules if there is no way to enforce them. This bill provides specific statutory authorization of state programs, which exceed federal laws to serve as models for regulatory flexibility. By enhancing regulatory flexibility in environmental standards Texas businesses will have more versatility in dealing with cumbersome regulations.