Senate Natural Resources Committee records, 1940, 1956-1957, 1971-1984, 1989-1997, 2001 bulk 1989-2001.

ArchivalResource

Texas. Legislature. Senate. Natural Resources Committee. Senate Natural Resources Committee records, 1940, 1956-1957, 1971-1984, 1989-1997, 2001 bulk 1989-2001.

Senate Natural Resources Committee records, 1940, 1956-1957, 1971-1984, 1989-1997, 2001 bulk 1989-2001.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/455550745

The Texas Senate Natural Resources Committee is a standing legislative committee which reviews matters concerning the environment and natural resources of Texas and has oversight of such agencies as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (as of 2002, renamed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality). Records of the Senate Natural Resources Committee include correspondence, minutes, agenda, legislative records, legal documents, printed materials, newspaper clippings, memoranda, reports, speeches, and exhibits dating 1940, 1956-1957, 1971-1984, 1989-1997, 2001, bulk 1989-2001. These materials represent work undertaken by the committee during the 67th, 68th, 72nd through 75th, and 77th Texas Legislatures. The records were maintained by the committee chairs who served from 1989 to 2001: Senators H. Tati Santiesteban, Bill Sims, J.E. "Buster" Brown, and Robert Duncan. Meeting files document formal committee gatherings to consider legislation directed to the committee and local hearings held to address concerns and gather information regarding proposed and existing legislation and procedures. Within these files are hearing files of the Joint Committee on Water Resources, 68th Legislature, Interim Session (1983-1984), concurrently chaired by Senator Santiesteban. During the 68th Legislature a water resources package containing several constitutional amendments passed the Texas Senate but stalled in the House. The legislature thus decided to hold interim hearings on the matter and appointed the Joint Committee on Water Resources. The records of this joint committee appear to have been maintained alongside the records of the Natural Resources Committee and were therefore transferred with them to the State Archives. Bill files consist of legislation considered and proposed by the committee during the 75th and 77th Legislatures, 1997, 2001. The committee created and assembled its "Working files" in the process of developing positions on legislation and analyzing topics such as the proposed Columbia Bottomlands National Wildlife Refuge, the impact of endangered species on private property, fishery management, clean air, aquaculture, waste tire recycling, and petroleum storage tanks. Research files contain background materials on agencies and issues of interest to the committee. Subjects cover water resources and regulations, clean air, low-level radiation issues, Superfund sites, pests and pesticides, recycling, leasing and management of public lands, hunting and fishing issues, and aquaculture (specifically, the possible regulation of aquatic activities such as fisheries, shrimperies, the management of exotic aquatic plants and animals, and the discharge of wastewater and material from such aquatic industries). Also featured are materials regarding House Bill 2473 (the Texas Environmental, Health, and Safety Audit Privilege Act concerning voluntary environmental self-audits), the proposed Columbia Bottomlands National Wildlife Refuge, revision of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code, and various administrative, operational, and regulatory issues regarding the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission. To prepare this inventory, the described materials were cursorily reviewed to delineate series, to confirm the accuracy of contents lists, to provide an estimate of dates covered, and to determine record types.

29.1 cubic ft.

Texas State Library & Archives Commission