Discharges from Quarries in the John Graves Scenic Riverway, Am I Regulated?

If you operate a quarry in the John Graves Scenic Riverway you may be regulated under 30 TAC Chapter 311, Subchapter H. 30 TAC Chapter 311, Subchapter H establishes regulations for certain quarries located in a water quality protection area in the John Graves Scenic Riverway.

If you operate a quarry that is located more than one mile from a water body within a water quality protection area in the John Graves Scenic Riverway, you may qualify for coverage under the new TPDES General Permit, TXG500000, which was issued on December 15, 2008. (Help with PDF)

Quarries operating under an existing TPDES permit were required to apply for this general permit by March 16, 2009 in order to maintain authorization for storm water or wastewater discharges into or adjacent to water in the state. These existing quarries may continue to discharge under the requirements of their existing permit (for example, the TPDES Multi-Sector General Permit, TXR050000 and/or the TPDES Construction General Permit, TXR150000) until the Notice of Intent (NOI) is processed under TXG500000.

New quarries may not commence operation until the applicant has received confirmation of coverage and an authorization number from the TCEQ. This includes the initial clearing and construction of the quarry.

Before discharging from a quarry meeting these criteria, you must:

1. Read the general permit TXG500000 to make sure it applies to your discharge.

• If the general permit does not apply, you may need to obtain an individual permit.


• If the general permit does apply, continue with Step 2.

2. Review your facility's compliance history ranking (HTML):

• If your facility is new or has a ranking of “high” or “average,” continue to Step 3.


• If the compliance history ranking is “poor,” then your facility is not eligible for coverage under a general permit. You must apply for an individual permit instead.

3. Submit a notification package, which includes the following information:

• Notice of Intent (NOI)


• General Permit TXG500000


• Application Fee ($1,215.00) submitted to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's (TCEQ's) Financial Administrative Division, Revenue Section (MC-214) or by ePay


• A Restoration Plan as described in Part III of the general permit TXG500000


• Proof of financial assurance for restoration as required in Part IV of the general permit


• A Pollution Prevention Plan (P3) as described in Part V of the general permit

Following review of the NOI, Restoration Plan, financial assurance for restoration, and P3, the executive director may determine that:

• the submission is complete and confirm coverage by providing a notification and an authorization number;


• the NOI, Restoration Plan, financial assurance for restoration, and/or P3 are incomplete and send a notice of deficiency to obtain additional information to allow the submission to become complete; or


• deny coverage.

After obtaining coverage under this general permit you should:

• Maintain a copy of General Permit TXG500000 and adhere to the requirements of the permit.


• Complete and submit the Discharge Monitoring Report Form (3320-1) which will be mailed to you by the TCEQs Enforcement Division.


• Submit a Notice of Change (NOC) if the permittee becomes aware that it failed to submit any relevant facts, submitted incorrect information in an NOI or previously submitted information has changed.


• Submit a Notice of Termination (NOT) when all discharges authorized by the permit are eliminated, completed, or if the operator or owner changes.


• If you are discharging to a MS4 (HTML), you must submit a copy of the NOI, NOC, and/or NOT to the operator of that system at the same time submittal is made to the TCEQ.

Annual water quality fees of $800.00 per year will accrue on September 1st of each year that the permit is active. The permit coverage continues to be active until an NOT is submitted.

Additional Information about TXG500000

The following additional information is available:

• Fact Sheet,
• Executive Director’s Response to Comments as published in the December 26, 2008 edition of the Texas Register, and
• Commission Resolution Issuing the General Permit.

Authorization to Discharge

For quarries located within one mile or greater than one mile of a water body within a water quality protection area in the John Graves Scenic Riverway that do not qualify for coverage under TXG500000, you may obtain authorization to discharge into or adjacent to water in the state by applying for an individual permit (HTML). Even if the general permit described above applies to your situation, you may request coverage under an individual permit.

Contact us if you have questions.