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Implementing the Surface Water Quality Standards in Permitting

The TCEQ establishes procedures that describe how surface water quality standards are applied in wastewater permitting.

Thermal Evaluation Procedures - Stakeholder Meeting Activity
What Are The Implementation Procedures?
Current 2010 Implementation Procedures
Previous Implementation Procedures
For More Information

Thermal Evaluation Procedures - Stakeholder Meeting Activity

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) hosted a public stakeholder meeting to continue discussions on the development of temperature screening procedures for use in Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) permits. Since earlier stakeholder meetings in 2014 and 2015, the TCEQ sent draft, high-level procedures to and received comments from EPA Region VI. A July 2017 meeting was held to discuss revisions to the draft procedures in response to EPA comments.

At the most recent October 16, 2017 stakeholder meeting the group discussed further revisions to the draft thermal procedures. Stakeholder comments were received until November 20, 2017. TCEQ will consider the comments received and plans to submit a final draft procedure for EPA review by early 2018. All stakeholder comments are listed below.

View Stakeholders Comments - Received between 07/27/2017 - 11/20/2017

11/20/2017	Tenaska
11/20/2017	Texas Industry Project
11/13/2017	Tischler/Kocurek
10/19/2017	TRC Solutions
09/29/2017	Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA)
09/29/2017	Texas Parks & Wildlife
08/01/2017	American Electric Power (AEP)
07/27/2017	Tenaska

Additional Resources:

Listed below are the temperature citations from the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards (TSWQS) and some links on where to find temperature data from the SWQMIS with the associated parameter codes.

Official and accessible version of the 2014 Standards (Texas Administrative Code, Title 30, Chapter 307) Exit the TCEQ is where you may locate the Definitions and Abbreviations under §307.3 and General Criteria under §307.4 in which temperature is covered under 307.4(f).

Temperature Citations in WQStandards
CRP Data Tool: https://www80.tceq.texas.gov/SwqmisWeb/public/crpweb.faces

Parameter Code	Parameter Description
00010 00011 00209 00210 00211 00221	TEMPERATURE, WATER (DEGREES CENTIGRADE) TEMPERATURE, WATER (DEGREES FAHRENHEIT) TEMPERATURE, WATER (DEGREES FAHRENHEIT) TEMPERATURE, WATER (DEGREES CENTIGRADE), 24HR AVG WATER TEMPERATURE, DEGREES CENTIGRADE, 24HR MAX TEMPERATURE, WATER (DEGREES CENTIGRADE) 24HR MIN WATER TEMPERATURE, # OF MEASUREMENTS IN 24-HRS

Other Data Resources:

Thermal Procedures Summaries and Handouts

(Most of the files linked below are in Portable Document Format (PDF). (Help with PDF).

Date	Notification	Agenda/Attendees	Summary	Handouts (PDF)	Handouts (PPT)	Organization
Oct 16, 2017	Notification	Agenda	Summary/Action Items/Q&A	Draft IP Evaluating Temperature Oct 2017 Application Waste Stream Contributions - Thermal	Default Thermal Balance Analysis Examples	TCEQ
July 27, 2017	Notification	Agenda	Summary	*Draft Thermal Procedures	Presentation: History, Status, and Next Steps	TCEQ
Aug 15, 2016	-	-	Sharing of EPA Comments with Stakeholders - No meeting	Draft Screening Procedures_Final Comments from the EPA	-	TCEQ
July 15, 2015	-	-	Sharing of Texas Tech Report with Stakeholders - No meeting	Temp DO Criteria Final Report	-	Texas Tech University, The Institute of Environmental and Human Health. Department of Environmental Toxicology
Feb 25, 2015	-	Agenda	Summary	Flowchart WQS Suggestions	-	TCEQ
Dec 17, 2014	Notification	Agenda	Summary Stakeholder Comments	-	-	TCEQ
Aug 20, 2014	Notification	Agenda	Summary Purpose	Aug 2014 Stakeholder Information Aug 2014 - EPA Temperature Information 2010 WQ Standards Temperature Citations R1 WQS TBL Temperature Jan 2014 - Permit Calculation Kansas Temperature Final	-	TCEQ Kansas Dept. of Health & Environment Bureau of Water. North American Journal Of Fisheries Management.

What Are The Implementation Procedures?

The TCEQ is responsible for maintaining and enhancing water quality in the state. One aspect of that responsibility involves implementation of the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards when issuing permits for wastewater discharges to surface waters of the state. The TCEQ issues Wastewater Permits under a program called the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES).

The TCEQ maintains a document entitled “Procedures to Implement the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards” (Implementation Procedures) that explains procedures used to apply water quality standards to permits issued under the TPDES program. This guidance document is updated as needed to reflect changes in the water quality standards and in agency policy and procedures. The implementation procedures are subject to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) review and approval.

Current 2010 Implementation Procedures

On June 30, 2010, the Commission approved a revision to the Implementation Procedures. The EPA has reviewed the June 2010 Implementation Procedures and has approved all but the following sections for use in TPDES permitting: whole effluent toxicity testing, dechlorination requirements for minor domestic wastewater treatment facilities, and variances. The TCEQ continues to work with the EPA to resolve these remaining issues.

June 2010 Procedures to Implement the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards,(RG-194)

Previous Implementation Procedures

January 2003 Procedures to Implement the Texas Surface Water Quality Standards(RG-194)

For More Information

For information on the Implementation Procedures, contact Standards Implementation Team at 512-239-4671 or ipcommnt@tceq.texas.gov. You may also send a fax to 512-239-4420 or a letter to TCEQ, Attn: Standards Implementation Team, MC-150, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087.

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