Sec. 7.257. DEFENSE TO NUISANCE OR TRESPASS. (a) A person, as defined by Section 382.003, Health and Safety Code, who is subject to an administrative, civil, or criminal action brought under this chapter for nuisance or trespass arising from greenhouse gas emissions has an affirmative defense to that action if the person's actions that resulted in the alleged nuisance or trespass were authorized by a rule, permit, order, license, certificate, registration, approval, or other form of authorization issued by the commission or the federal government or an agency of the federal government and:
(1) the person was in substantial compliance with that rule, permit, order, license, certificate, registration, approval, or other authorization while the alleged nuisance or trespass was occurring; or
(2) the commission or the federal government or an agency of the federal government exercised enforcement discretion in connection with the actions that resulted in the alleged nuisance or trespass.
(b) This section does not apply to nuisance actions solely based on a noxious odor.
Added by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 909 (S.B. 875), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011.
Last modified: September 28, 2016