Texas Health and Safety Code - HEALTH & SAFETY § 361.102. Prohibition on Permit for Hazardous Waste Management Facilities Within a Certain Distance of Residence, Church, School, Day Care Center, Park, or Public Drinking Water Supply

(a) Except as provided by Subsections (b) and (c), the commission by rule shall prohibit the issuance of a permit for a new hazardous waste landfill or land treatment facility or the areal expansion of such a facility if the boundary of the landfill or land treatment facility is to be located within 1,000 feet of an established residence, church, school, day care center, surface water body used for a public drinking water supply, or dedicated public park.

(b) The commission by rule shall prohibit the issuance of a permit for a new commercial hazardous waste management facility or the subsequent areal expansion of such a facility or unit of that facility if the boundary of the unit is to be located within one-half of a mile (2,640 feet) of an established residence, church, school, day care center, surface water body used for a public drinking water supply, or dedicated public park.

(c) For a subsequent areal expansion of a new commercial hazardous waste management facility that was required to comply with Subsection (b), distances shall be measured from a residence, church, school, day care center, surface water body used for a public drinking water supply, or dedicated public park only if such structure, water supply, or park was in place at the time the distance was certified for the original permit.

(d) The commission by rule shall prohibit the issuance of a permit for a new commercial hazardous waste management facility that is proposed to be located at a distance greater than one-half mile (2,640 feet) from an established residence, church, school, day care center, surface water body used for a public drinking water supply, or dedicated park, unless the applicant demonstrates that the facility will be operated so as to safeguard public health and welfare and protect physical property and the environment, at any distance beyond the facility's property boundaries, consistent with the purposes of this chapter.

(e) The measurement of distances required by Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) shall be taken toward an established residence, church, school, day care center, surface water body used for a public drinking water supply, or dedicated park that is in use when the notice of intent to file a permit application is filed with the commission or, if no notice of intent is filed, when the permit application is filed with the commission. The restrictions imposed by Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) do not apply to a residence, church, school, day care center, surface water body used for a public drinking water supply, a dedicated park located within the boundaries of a commercial hazardous waste management facility, or property owned by the permit applicant.

(f) The measurement of distances required by Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) shall be taken from a perimeter around the proposed hazardous waste management unit. The perimeter shall be not more than 75 feet from the edge of the proposed hazardous waste management unit.