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Tceq overview
- 1. Texas Commission on Environmental Quality A General Overview of TCEQ
- 2. TCEQ Commissioners Toby Carlos Baker, Commis Rubinstein, Commissi sioner oner Bryan W. Shaw, Ph.D., Chairman Three full-time commissioners are appointed by the governor to establish overall agency direction and policy, and to make final determinations on contested permitting and enforcement matters.
- 3. Mission Statement: The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality strives to protect our state's human and natural resources consistent with sustainable economic development. Our goal is clean air, clean water, and the safe management of waste.
- 4. Role of TCEQ Rulemaking Adopt rules; powers assigned by the legislature Permitting Evaluate paperwork, direct activities affecting environment Monitoring Monitor ambient conditions, those associated w/investigations Investigations Conduct complaint and routine inspections Enforcement Seek compliance; may include an order and monetary fine Emergency Response Respond to spills, accidental releases, and natural disasters
- 6. TCEQ AREAS
- 7. What Do We Regulate Solid Waste – Industrial, Hazardous & Municipal Recycling Water – Drinking Water, Waste Water, & Stormwater Air Emissions
- 8. Solid Waste •Municipal /Domestic – 30 TAC 330 •Recycling – 30 TAC 328 •Industrial – 30 TAC 335
- 9. Water Stormwater – Industrial, Construction, Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) Drinking Water – Utilities, Districts, Public Water Supplies, Drought Contingency Plans, Water Availability Wastewater – OSSF, Municipal, Industrial, Quarry and Aggregate Production, Sanitary Sewer Overflows
- 10. Air Emissions
- 11. Types of Regional Investigations Water Waste Air Section Section Section Stack Industrial Water Quality Sampling Solid Waste Municipal Monitoring Storm Water Solid Waste Air Public Water Petroleum Investigations Supply Storage Tanks Emergency OSSF Response Underground Surface Water Injection Quality Control
- 12. Investigations Complaints Assessments Routine LBB EPA
- 13. Outcome of Investigations General Compliance Notice of Violation Notice of Enforcement/Field Citation = = But wait, you can do a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) to offset the cost and improve the local environment (http://www.tceq.texas.gov/legal/sep ) Goal: Clean Air, Clean Water and the Safe Management of Waste
- 14. Getting & Staying in Compliance Develop a Game Plan Utilize helpful agency resources: SBLGA Compliance Assistance TCEQ Publications Recordkeeping tools Training Sign up for email updates for topics of choice https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/TXTCEQ/subscriber /new
- 15. Is There any Help to Meet the Requirements? Small Business and Local Government Assistance Programs Offer: Technical Assistance with understanding the rules and meeting requirements One to One Help Compliance Tools Free & Confidential
- 16. Getting Help Hotline 1-800-447-2827 M-F 8:00am-5:00pm www.TexasEnviroHelp.org Office & Site Visits The Advocate quarterly newsletter
- 17. Questions? Thank You! Vickie McLean Region 7 Air Work Lead Vickie.mclean@tceq.texas.gov 432-570-1359
Editor's Notes
- As a regulatory agency, the TCEQ has many roles.
- To accomplish the our mission over the entire state, the TCEQ has 16 regional offices and a Central Office in Austin.
- The regional offices are clustered into four areas: North Central and West Texas, Border and Permian Basin, Central Texas, and the Coastal and East Texas areas.
- These are the media that TCEQ regulates. Most of these require a notification, registration or permit in Texas.
- The Municipal waste rules are in 30 TAC 330; Recycling rules are in 30 TAC 328 and Industrial waste rules are in 30 TAC 335. The TCEQ also regulates underground storage tanks under 30 TAC 334.
- There are several sections in the Office of Water, but the three main areas are Stormwater, Drinking water, and wastewater. The TCEQ Office of Water also oversees dam safety, interstate compacts, Bay and estuary programs, operator licensing, and landscape irrigation installation.
- Permits for air emissions are based on the amount of emissions from a specific activity. For instance, if you own a Laundromat and do no dry cleaning, you are covered by the list of De Minimis facilities. However, if you operate a dry cleaning facility, you must register with the TCEQ and will need to apply for a permit by rule because the emissions from dry cleaning are greater than those of a laudromat.
- These are the types of investigations conducted by regional investigators.
- Investigations are initiated in a number of ways – complaint investigations, assessment for compliance, and routine investigations.
- After an investigation, you’ll receive one of three letters – a general compliance letter stating that there were no violations found at the time of the investigation; a notice of violation stating which violations were noted and how long you have to correct them; or a notice of enforcement or a field citation. The field citation is intended to promote a quick resolution for any of the field citation-eligible violations documented during a TCEQ investigation, while offering a reduced penalty as compared to a penalty calculated through the traditional enforcement process. When violations are serious enough to warrant an enforcement action, the TCEQ is authorized to enforce correction of the violations and to seek penalties to deter future noncompliance. If the case is expected to settle quickly, the enforcement coordinator then drafts an agreed order, which describes the alleged violations and any actions that need to be taken to correct them. The agreed order will also normally include a calculated penalty. Businesses and local governments may be able to offset some or all of the penalty with a Supplemental Environmental Project.
- The Small Business and Local Government Assistance (SBLGA) program provides free & confidential technical assistance. SBLGA will NOT get you out of enforcement, but they will help you get through it.
- SBLGA has a toll free number you can call and talk to someone live, each day the agency is open. If you get the voicemail, leave a message and your call will be returned that day if possible, or the next business day. There is also a website www.TexasEnviroHelp.org that is easy to use. On the site you’ll see “Small business assistance.” When you click on that you’ll see a list of industry specific links that have all the information in one place for air, water, and waste compliance for that industry. You can also come visit the staff in their office or ask them to visit you. It’s best that you call ahead to set up an appointment to make certain that you both have the necessary time allotted.Every quarter, SBLGA published the Advocate newsletter. This lets the regulated community know about rule changes, special events – such as the Environmental Trade Fair, and other noteworthy items.