Opinion No.

Mr. Barry R. McBee Chair, Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission P.O. Box 13087 Austin, Texas 78711-3087

Re: Whether Water Code section 5.123, as enacted by Act of May 24, 1997, 75th Leg., R.S., ch. 1203, § 1, violates the suspension of laws and separation of powers provisions of the Texas Constitution (RQ-975)

Dear Mr. McBee:

You ask whether Water Code section 5.123,1 a recently enacted statute2 authorizing the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission ("TNRCC" or the "commission") to grant exemptions to statutes and commission rules regarding pollution control or abatement,…