The Advocate
The Advocate is a periodic update on TCEQ rules, including information about compliance issues and regulatory concerns that affect small businesses and local governments. It’s produced by the TCEQ's Small Business and Local Government Assistance Section.
Free Webinars on Developing an Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP)
October 2021 - TCEQ is hosting FREE online workshops to help affected water utilities understand the requirements of Senate Bill 3 (SB3) and EPPs.
Grant Round Open – Texas Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Program (TxVEMP)
October 2021 - TCEQ’s TxVEMP opened the grant round for direct current fast charging (DCFC) and hydrogen dispensing equipment for light-duty zero emission vehicles in Texas.
Texas Water and Power Resilience Workshop
September 2021 - The EPA and TCEQ will conduct a virtual workshop to help drinking water, wastewater, and electric utilities understand how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from power outages.
TCEQ Seeks Stakeholder Input on Upcoming Rulemaking Related to On-Site Sewage Facilities (OSSFs) and Occupational Licenses
September 2021 – TCEQ is holding five virtual stakeholder meetings in September and October to present and take comments on rulemaking for on-site sewage facilities and occupational licenses and registrations.
Multi Sector General Permit (TXR050000) Renewal Period Begins
August 2021 - TCEQ issued the new 2021 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) effective August 14, 2021. The 2016 permit expired that same day. The MSGP regulates stormwater discharges from industrial activities.
Free Webinars: Technical Assistance for Publicly Owned Treatment Works
August 2021 – The EPA is conducting free webinars for owners and operators of publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) on August 26, September 22, October 21, and November 18, 2021, from noon to 1:30 p.m.
TCEQ Launches Electronic Submittals for the Petroleum Storage Tank (PST) Registration Program
August 2021 – You can now submit registrations for both aboveground and underground storage tanks online through the State of Texas Electronic Environmental Reporting System (STEERS).
Multi Sector General Permit (TXR050000) Renewal Process Continues
June 2021 - The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is in the final steps of renewing the 2016 Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) Multi Sector General Permit (MSGP) TXR050000.
Free Petroleum Storage Tank (PST) Compliance Webinars
June 2021 - TCEQ is hosting FREE webinars for underground storage tank (UST) owners and operators to explain UST reporting and record-keeping requirements.
Free Webinars for Managing Small Public Water Systems: Asset Management
June 2021 – TCEQ is hosting FREE webinars to help water system owners, operators, managers, utility board members, and elected officials understand the importance of asset management and maintaining the system.
TCEQ 2021 Online Public Drinking Water Conference
June 2021 – Please join us at this year’s online Public Drinking Water Conference on August 10-11, 2021!
Free Webinars: Protecting Utilities from Disaster
June 2021 – The EPA is conducting free webinars to help protect wastewater and drinking water utilities from disaster by building resilience and adapting to climate change.
Free EPA-Sponsored Webinars for Small Public Water Systems
May 2021 – The Texas Rural Water Association (TRWA) is hosting FREE 2-hour virtual workshops for public water systems serving populations of 10,000 or less.
EPA Issues Compliance Advisory for Small, Mechanical Wastewater Treatment Plants
April 2021 - EPA issued a Compliance Advisory for owners and operators of small wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). It includes information to help WWTPs stay within the effluent limits of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits.
Lead and Copper Rule Revisions: Virtual Engagements
April 2021 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be hosting virtual public listening sessions on Lead & Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR) so that communities and stakeholders may provide their perspectives on protections from lead in drinking water.
Free Webinars: Wastewater Compliance Solutions and Biosolids
March 2021 – The EPA is conducting free webinars for wastewater treatment plant owners and operators on March 25, April 29, and May 27, from noon to 1:30 p.m. CST.
Industrial Hazardous Waste (IHW) Annual Waste Summary Reporting
Feb. 2021 - Due to the February 2021 severe cold weather event, TCEQ will be offering enforcement discretion for all electronic 2020 Annual Waste Summary reports (as specified in Title 30 Texas Administrative Code Section 335.9(a)(2)(B)) that are due March 1, 2021.
Free Webinar: Operating a WWTP Laboratory
Feb. 2021 – The EPA is conducting a free webinar for wastewater treatment plant owners and operators on February 24, 2021, from noon to 1:30 p.m. CST.
Public Comment and Meeting for the Multi Sector General Permit, TXR050000
Dec. 2020 - The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is in the process of renewing the 2016 Texas Pollution Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) Multi Sector General Permit (MSGP) TXR050000, which expires on August 14, 2021.
Webinar on the Transient Noncommunity Notebook is Now Available
Dec. 2020 – TNC Notebook Webinar Now Online
Oil and Gas Discharge Delegation Stakeholder Meeting
Dec. 2020 – You are invited to a stakeholder meeting to discuss TCEQ’s activities and schedule for implementing House Bill (HB) 2771 (86th Legislature, 2019).
Free Webinars: Wastewater Treatment Microbiology and Sampling
Nov. 2020 – The EPA is conducting free webinars for wastewater treatment plant owners and operators on November 17, December 8, and January 27, from noon to 1:30 p.m. CST.
EPA Issues Compliance Advisory for Significant Non-Compliance Dischargers
Oct. 2020 – The EPA and TCEQ are increasing attention to individually permitted Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) facilities in significant non-compliance (SNC).
TCEQ Seeks Input on Public Notice and Participation Requirements
October 2020 – TCEQ will hold virtual stakeholder meetings for rulemaking on alternative language public participation requirements
Clarification on Requirements for New Dispenser and Under-Dispenser Containment Areas
Sept. 2020 – Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requirements apply to Underground Storage Tank (UST) facilities that install or replace dispensers to comply with Europay, Mastercard and Visa (EMV) protection on card readers.
Texas Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Program Now Accepting Applications for Level 2 Charging Equipment for Light-Duty Zero Emission Vehicles!
Sept. 2020 - The Texas Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Program (TxVEMP) is now accepting applications for the purchase and installation of Level 2 charging equipment for light-duty zero emission vehicles in the State of Texas.
New Standard Permit Registration Form for Concrete Batch Plants
Aug. 2020 – TCEQ has a New Standard Permit Registration Form for Concrete Batch Plants
Temporary Waiver for Electronic Reporting of Unauthorized Discharges and Unanticipated Bypasses
August 2020 – TCEQ is issuing a temporary waiver for electronic submissions of the written reports for unauthorized discharges and unanticipated bypasses until December 21, 2023.
Free Webinars: Technical Assistance for Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs)
August 2020 – The EPA is conducting free webinars on August 18, September 15, and October 20, 2020, from noon to 1:30 p.m.
Industrial and Hazardous Waste Rule Updates
July 2020- An industrial and hazardous waste rule project became effective June 11, 2020.