Happy International Women’s Day!
Tell the women is your life. “Thank you for all they do!” And Happy
Wednesday!
Have you
heard about SenateBill 900 where the Texas Legislature amended the Texas Water Code by adding
several sections to Chapter 26 in which they enacted a new program called, ‘Performance
Standards for Safety at Aboveground Storage Vessels?” This new code will
affect petrochemical plants, petroleum refineries and bulk storage terminals
who have containment tanks or something
similar which hold 21,000 gallons or more of regulated substances (as described
in TWCSection 26.343) and are made of concrete, steel, plastic or something
similar. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) must establish the Aboveground Storage Vessels Safety (ASVS) Program
by September 1, 2023. The new rules will
be in Title30 Texas Administrative Code Chapter 388.
The TCEQ is in the comment
phase of the proposal and will be having six public hearings around Texas to
hear what people think of their rules, and/or they may mail in your comments. Three of the rules they are proposing are:
· 1. Protect groundwater and surface water
in the event of an accident or natural disaster.
· 2. Identify new safety elements that
TCEQ must include in the ASVS Program.
· 3. Define which entities are regulated.
If you would like to attend the hearing in Houston it will be Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 6 p.m. at MagnoliaMulti-Service Center. If you would like to make an oral statement or written statement, you must register at the hearing. There will be an open discussion thirty minutes prior to the hearing, but not during the actual hearing.
If you would like to read more about TCEQ’s announcement and specifics to
the kinds of aboveground storage or other locations for the hearings, please
click the link: New ProgramRegulating the Safety of Aboveground Storage Vessels - Texas Commission onEnvironmental Quality - www.tceq.texas.gov
Well,
I hope to see you at the Greater Houston Port Bureau Commerce Club Luncheon at
the Houston Marriott
South at Hobby Airport. I hope you
made your reservations, because I hear it is sold out. It should be an interesting talk from COL
Michael E. Fossum, Vice President, Texas A&M University, Chief Operating
Officer, Galveston Campus, and Superintendent, Texas A&M Maritime Academy.
Have
a great and relaxing evening!