Office of Legal Services

This office manages legal services for the agency in environmental law, enforcement litigation, bankruptcy, and general agency operations. The office gives legal counsel and support to the executive director, the agency programs, and—along with the general counsel and the public interest counsel—the commissioners. The office ensures that commission decisions follow the law, and that rules we develop comply with statutory authority and are applied consistently.

Caroline Sweeney, Deputy Director
Staff: Address/Phone/Fax

Environmental Law
General Law
Litigation

Related Information
Office Organization Chart
Career Opportunities in the Office of Legal Services

Environmental Law

Robert Martinez, Director
Staff: Address/Phone/Fax

The Environmental Law Division primarily supports the offices of Permitting and Registration, Water, and the chief engineer. This division provides legal counsel to the agency in all areas of permitting and rulemaking, and represents the executive director in contested permitting matters in accordance with state law and agency rules regarding participation in hearings. The division’s functions also include legal support related to federal program delegation, interpretation of environmental statutes and rules, and support for the Office of the Attorney General in state and federal court litigation.

General Law

David Timberger, Director
Staff: Address/Phone/Fax

The General Law Division serves as legal counsel to the agency on issues related to contracts, grants, procurement, employment law and public-service ethics; processing and distribution of information for the public; and records retention. The division director serves as the agency ethics adviser. The division also prepares the administrative records for appeals under the Administrative Procedures Act and supports the Office of Legal Services with administrative personnel (paralegals and legal secretaries).

The division is integral to the agency’s administration, coordinating statewide public hearings; managing its rulemaking, including publishing its rules in the Texas Register; reviewing, tracking and posting information and public notices at its website; and preparing matters for the commissioners’ agenda.

Litigation

Kathleen Decker, Director
Staff: Address/Phone/Fax

The Litigation Division provides legal representation and support to the Enforcement, Field Operations and Remediation divisions of the Office of Compliance and Enforcement. The division negotiates agreed enforcement orders, litigates enforcement actions, advises the agency concerning cleanup standards and recovery of cleanup costs, and coordinates the programs for Supplemental Environmental Projects and Environmental Audits. Through the Environmental Crimes Section, it investigates and gathers evidence on environmental crimes for prosecution in state and federal courts.

Related Information

Criminal Enforcement Review Adopted Rules Help with PDF.
Office of General Counsel - agenda matters
Office of Public Interest Counsel - information on contested matters and how to participate in contested case matters
Office of the Attorney General, State of Texas
State Office of Administrative Hearings (SOAH)
Texas Ethics Commission
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Open Records Operating Policy and Procedure
TCEQ Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) General Information and Application Guidelines
Enforcement Report to the Commission

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