RULES.

(a) The department may adopt rules governing the storage and disposal of pesticides and pesticide containers for the purpose of:

(1) preventing injury from storage or disposal to man, vegetation, crops, or animals; and

(2) preventing any water pollution that is harmful to man or wildlife provided, however, that such rules be consistent with and not less stringent than commission rules adopted under Chapter 26, Water Code.

(b) A person may not store or dispose of a pesticide in violation of a rule adopted by the department under this section.

(c) Applicators and other entities covered by this chapter who normally store products listed under the FIFRA in an amount that exceeds 55 gallons, 500 pounds, or a lesser amount the department determines by rule for certain highly toxic or dangerous chemicals covered by this chapter, within one-quarter mile of a residential area composed of three or more private dwellings for more than 72 hours, shall provide to the fire chief of the fire department having jurisdiction over the storage place, in writing, the name and telephone number of the applicator or a knowledgeable representative of the applicator or other entity storing the product who can be contacted for further information or contacted in case of emergency.

(d) On request, each applicator or entity shall provide to the fire chief having jurisdiction over the storage place a copy of a list of pesticides stored by the applicator or entity. The applicator or other entity shall notify the fire chief of any significant changes that occur relating to the stored pesticides if requested by the fire chief in writing.

(e) The fire chief having jurisdiction over the storage place or the fire chief's representative, on request, shall be permitted to conduct on-site inspections of the pesticides stored for the sole purpose of preparing fire department activities in case of an emergency.

(f) On request, the fire chief having jurisdiction over the storage place shall make the stored pesticide list available to members of the fire department having jurisdiction over the workplace and to personnel outside the fire department who are responsible for preplanning emergency activities, but may not otherwise distribute the information without approval of the applicator.