Sec. 7.152. INTENTIONAL OR KNOWING UNAUTHORIZED DISCHARGE AND KNOWING ENDANGERMENT. (a) A person commits an offense if the person, acting intentionally or knowingly, discharges or allows the discharge of a waste or pollutant into or adjacent to water in the state and by that action knowingly places another person in imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury, unless the discharge is made in strict compliance with all required permits or with an order issued or rule adopted by the appropriate regulatory agency.

(b) For purposes of Subsection (a), 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.

(c) An offense under this section is punishable for an individual under Section 7.187(1)(D) or Section 7.187(2)(G) or both. If an offense committed by an individual under this section results in death or serious bodily injury to another person, the individual may be punished under Section 7.187(1)(E) or Section 7.187(2)(I) or both.

(d) An offense under this section is punishable for a person other than an individual under Section 7.187(1)(E). If an offense committed by a person other than an individual under this section results in death or serious bodily injury to another person, the person may be punished under Section 7.187(1)(F).

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1072, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.