The commission must require corrective action for certain hazardous-waste releases and may issue orders or take enforcement action when specified conditions are met.
Sec. 7.031. CORRECTIVE ACTION RELATING TO HAZARDOUS WASTE. (a) The commission shall require corrective action for a release of hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents from a solid waste management unit at a solid waste processing, storage, or disposal facility that is required to obtain a permit for the management of hazardous waste and whose permit is issued after November 8, 1984, regardless of when the waste is placed in the unit. (b) The commission shall establish schedules for compliance for the corrective action if the corrective action cannot be completed before permit issuance and shall require assurances of financial responsibility for completing the corrective action. (c) If the commission determines that there is or has been a release of hazardous waste into the environment from a facility required to obtain a permit in accordance with an approved state program under Section 3006 of the federal Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq.), the commission may: (1) issue an order requiring corrective action or other response measures considered necessary to protect human health or the environment; or (2) institute a civil action under Subchapter D. (d) An order issued under this section: (1) may include a suspension or revocation of authorization to operate; (2) must state with reasonable specificity the nature of the required corrective action or other response measure; and (3) must specify a time for compliance. (e) If a person named in the order does not comply with the order, the commission may assess an administrative penalty or seek a civil penalty in accordance with this chapter. (f) Nothing in this section limits the authority of the commission, consistent with federal law, to issue an order for the closure, post-closure care, or other remediation of hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents from a solid waste management unit at a solid waste processing, storage, or disposal facility. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1072, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 965, Sec. 9.07, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.