| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
Relating to plot plan requirements for an application for a standard permit for a concrete batch plant issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
HB 798 would add specific requirements to an application for the issuance of a standard permit for a concrete plant that performs wet batching, dry batching, or central mixing. The bill would require an applicant to submit a plot plan that clearly shows distance scale, a north arrow, all property lines, emission points, buildings, tanks, process vessels and other process equipment in the area the facility will be located, and at least two benchmark locations in the area in which the facility will be located. If the permit requires a distance, setback, or buffer from other property or structures as a condition of the permit, the plot plan must also indicate whether the required distance or setback will be met.
According to the bill author's statement of intent: "Applications for the issuance of a standard permit under the Texas Clean Air Act for a concrete plant are being approved without the submission of a detailed plot plan, which displays emission points and distance proximity benchmarks required to meet certain standards of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. There are concerns that nearby residential or commercial properties could experience undue environmental harm as a result of these requirements not being enforced."
On the one hand, this bill adds to the government-imposed requirements for concrete plants by adding new requirements to the permit application process. On the other hand, this bill may protect the rights of neighboring property owners to not have their property suffer undue damage from concrete plants. Due to these conflicting liberty principles, Texas Action remains neutral on HB 798.