1. (a) Any person responsible for an unauthorized discharge of oil or the person in charge of any vessel or a terminal facility from or at which an unauthorized discharge of oil has occurred, as soon as that person has knowledge of the discharge, shall:

   1. (1) immediately notify the commissioner of the discharge; and
   2. (2) undertake all reasonable actions to abate, contain, and remove pollution from the discharge.
2. (b) If the persons responsible or in charge are unknown or appear to the commissioner to be unwilling or unable to abate, contain, and remove pollution from an unauthorized discharge of oil in an adequate manner, the commissioner may abate, contain, and remove pollution from the discharge and may contract with and appoint agents who shall operate under the direction of the commissioner.

3. (c) In order to prevent duplication of effort among state agencies, the commissioner shall utilize the expertise of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on technical and scientific actions, including but not limited to:

   1. (1) taking samples in the spill area;
   2. (2) monitoring meteorological conditions that may affect spill response operations; and
   3. (3) regulating disposal of spilled material.

Added by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 10, Sec. 1, eff. March 28, 1991.

Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 11.269, eff. Sept. 1, 1995;

Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 146, Sec. 5, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.