Sec. 505.016. RULES; FEES

(a) The board may adopt rules and administrative procedures reasonably necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

(b) The board may authorize the collection of annual fees from facility operators for the filing of tier two forms required by this chapter. Except as provided by Subsection (d), fees may be used only to fund activities under this chapter. The fee for facilities may not exceed:

(1) $100 for each required submission having no more than 25 hazardous chemicals or hazardous chemical categories;

(2) $200 for each required submission having no more than 50 hazardous chemicals or hazardous chemical categories;

(3) $300 for each required submission having no more than 75 hazardous chemicals or hazardous chemical categories;

(4) $400 for each required submission having no more than 100 hazardous chemicals or hazardous chemical categories; or

(5) $500 for each required submission having more than 100 hazardous chemicals or chemical categories.

(c) To minimize the fees, the board by rule shall provide for consolidated filings of multiple tier two forms for facility operators covered by Subsection (b) if each of the tier two forms contains fewer than 25 items.

(d) The department may use up to 20 percent of the fees collected under this section as grants to local emergency planning committees to assist them to fulfill their responsibilities under EPCRA. The department may use up to 15 percent of the fees collected under this chapter and Chapter 506, or the amount of fees paid by the state and its political subdivisions under Chapter 506, whichever is greater, to administer Chapter 502.

Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 528, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.