More Details on HB 595 Hearing

On March 17th, Annalisa Peace and Raymond Slade testified on behalf of GEAA at the House Natural Resources Committee hearing on HB 595 and HB 1508, which would prohibit discharge of sewage effluent and pollutants into waterways that recharge the Edwards.

The testimony by David Leibowitz and Valinda Bolton in support of the bills they filed - HB 595 and HB 1508 (respectively) - was educational and inspirational, as was all the testimony by the experts in support of this important legislation. Thanks so much to the City of Austin, Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, Raymond Slade on behalf of GEAA and HCA, Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson, Mayor Bob Lee of Castroville, and Randy Johnson of the San Geronimo Valley Alliance, for their support and compelling testimony. Thanks, too, to the Edwards Aquifer Authority for registering their support.

Also of interest are comments by a couple of our regional legislators who serve on that committee. A tip of the hat to Trey Martinez Fischer! If he represents you, thanks are in order.

If Doug Miller is your representative, take a good look at his participation during the hearing and contact him to urge his support of HB 595 and HB 1508.

Present but silent at the hearing was San Antonio Water Systems. We need your help in getting SAWS to actively support this legislation. Stay tuned for more on this.

Natural Resources Committee Hears GEAA's Top Bill

The House Natural Resources Committee met yesterday to hear comments about HB 595 and HB 1508, among others. Several GEAA members and supporters came to speak in support of these bills - thank you!

If you'd like to see a recording of yesterday's hearing, go to the Natural Resource Committee's archived broadcasts and click on the broadcast listed for 3/17/09, starting at 12:06 pm.

You'll need to download RealPlayer first to view this video... Go here to download and install this software for free!

* * *

For a list of relevant bills considered at yesterday's meeting, read below:

HB 595: Leibowitz/Rodriguez - Relating to a restriction on permits authorizing discharges of sewage effluent into any water in the contributing or recharge zone of the San Antonioor Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer

HB 1508: Bolton - Relating to a restriction on permits authorizing direct discharges of waste or pollutants into water in certain areas associated with the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer.

HB 1662: King, Phil- Relating to the availability of certain Upper Trinity GWCD financial information on the district's internet website.

HB 1664: King, Phil - Relating to an exemption for groundwater used for certain purposes from production fees assessed by the Upper TrinityGWDC

HB 1318: Legler - Relating to the eligibility, service, and removal of persons appointed to the TCEQ

HB 1518: Corte - Relating to the additional f territory to and the amount of production fees imposed by the Trinity Glen Rose GWCD

HB 43: Corte - Relating to permitting requirements of groundwater conservation districts, including permits to transfer water

HB 1992: Martinez Fischer - Relating to the authorization of certain reuse water system contributions and discharges