Texas Water Code 7.163 – Violations Relating to Hazardous Waste and Endangerment
(a) A person commits an offense if:
(1) acting intentionally or knowingly, the person transports, processes, stores, exports, or disposes of, or causes to be transported, processed, stored, exported, or disposed of, hazardous waste in violation of Chapter 361, Health and Safety Code, and by that action knowingly places another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury;
(2) acting intentionally or knowingly with respect to the person’s conduct, transports, processes, stores, exports, or disposes of, or causes to be transported, processed, stored, exported, or disposed of, hazardous waste in violation of Chapter 361, Health and Safety Code, and by that action places another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury, unless the conduct charged is done in strict compliance with all required permits or with an order issued or a rule adopted by the appropriate regulatory agency;
(3) acting intentionally or knowingly with respect to the person’s conduct, releases or causes or allows the release of a hazardous waste into the environment and by that action places another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury, unless the release is made in strict compliance with all required permits or an order issued or a rule adopted by the appropriate regulatory agency; or
(4) acting recklessly with respect to the person’s conduct, releases or causes or allows the release of a hazardous waste into the environment and by that action places another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury, unless the release is made in strict compliance with all required permits or an order issued or a rule adopted by the appropriate regulatory agency.
(b) An offense under Subsection (a)(1) is punishable for an individual under § 7.187(1)(E) or § 7.187(2)(H) or both. An offense under Subsection (a)(1) is punishable for a person other than an individual under § 7.187(1)(F). If an offense committed by an individual under Subsection (a)(1) results in death or serious bodily injury to another person, the individual may be punished under § 7.187(1)(F) or § 7.187(2)(J) or both. If an offense committed by a person other than an individual under Subsection (a)(1) results in death or serious bodily injury to another person, the person may be punished under § 7.187(1)(G). For purposes of Subsection (a)(1), in determining whether a defendant who is an individual knew that the violation placed another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury, the defendant is responsible only for the defendant’s actual awareness or actual belief possessed. Knowledge possessed by a person other than the defendant may not be attributed to the defendant. To prove a defendant’s actual knowledge, circumstantial evidence may be used, including evidence that the defendant took affirmative steps to be shielded from relevant information.
Terms Used In Texas Water Code 7.163
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Rule: includes regulation. See Texas Government Code 311.005
(c) An offense under Subsection (a)(2) is punishable for an individual under § 7.187(1)(D) or § 7.187(2)(F) or both. An offense under Subsection (a)(2) is punishable for a person other than an individual under § 7.187(1)(E). If an offense committed under Subsection (a)(2) results in death or serious bodily injury to another person, an individual may be punished under § 7.187(1)(E) or § 7.187(2)(G) or both. If an offense committed by a person other than an individual under Subsection (a)(2) results in death or serious bodily injury to another person, the person may be punished under § 7.187(1)(F).
(d) An offense under Subsection (a)(3) is punishable for an individual under § 7.187(1)(D) or § 7.187(2)(F) or both. An offense under Subsection (a)(3) is punishable for a person other than an individual under § 7.187(1)(E). If an offense committed by an individual under Subsection (a)(3) results in death or serious bodily injury to another person, the individual may be punished under § 7.187(1)(E) or § 7.187(2)(G) or both. If an offense committed by a person other than an individual under Subsection (a)(3) results in death or serious bodily injury to another person, the person may be punished under § 7.187(1)(F).
(e) An offense under Subsection (a)(4) is punishable for an individual under § 7.187(1)(C) or § 7.187(2)(D) or both. An offense under Subsection (a)(4) is punishable for a person other than an individual under § 7.187(1)(E). If an offense committed by an individual under Subsection (a)(4) results in death or serious bodily injury to another person, the individual may be punished under § 7.187(1)(E) or § 7.187(2)(E) or both. If an offense committed by a person other than an individual under Subsection (a)(4) results in death or serious bodily injury to another person, the person may be punished under § 7.187(1)(F).