Assistance Tools for Construction Stormwater General Permits

HOTRenewal of the Construction General Permit 

TCEQ renewed the 2023 CGP effective March 5, 2023. You can find the 2023 CGP Fact Sheet and Executive Director's Response to Comments on the Additional Guidance and Quick Links: Construction Activities webpage.

Construction Activities Authorized under 2018 CGP

If your active construction site is permitted under the 2018 CGP renew your Notice of Intent (NOI) or Low Rainfall Erosivity Waiver (LREW) if construction will continue beyond March 5th, 2023. You have a 90-day grace period to renew your NOI or LREW that ends June 5, 2023, at 11:59pm. 

You must submit renewal applications for large construction sites online using TCEQ’s e-permitting system, STEERS. 

Operators of small construction sites do not need to submit a renewal application but must update the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3) to reflect the 2023 CGP requirements and post a new Small Construction Site Notice.

TPDES Construction Stormwater General Permit

Stormwater runoff from construction activities can have a significant impact on water quality. As stormwater flows over a construction site, it picks up pollutants like sediment, debris, and chemicals, and deposits them in creeks, streams, rivers, lakes, etc. The construction stormwater general permit is one way to authorize this discharge.

2023 Construction Stormwater General permit TXR150000 

Applicability

Stormwater discharges associated with a construction activity may need authorization depending on the area of land disturbed.

• If you disturb less than one acre* - you don’t need coverage under this permit.
• If you disturb one or more acres* - you do need coverage under this permit.

*If your construction activity is part of a larger Common Plan of Development, you must consider the total area of acres disturbed - even if the development is completed in phases.

Visit the Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activities: Am I Regulated? webpage for more information.

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Getting Authorization

Visit the following webpages for step-by-step instructions on how to get authorization under this permit and links to more resources. 

• Stormwater Discharges from Small Construction Activities - disturb at least one, but less than five acres*
• Stormwater Discharges from Large Construction Activities - disturb five or more acres*
  • The fee for authorization under the Construction General Permit is $225 and is payable online through STEERS with a credit card or bank draft.

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan

A SWP3 outlines your plans, or best management practices, to control contaminants that may be discharged in stormwater runoff. Update your SWP3 as conditions change at your construction site. See our CGP SWP3 Template (In revision 2023) for guidance.

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Compliance Resources

General Compliance Overview

• Stormwater General Permit for Construction Activities – Requirements and options for the discharge of stormwater from construction activities, including links to other pages relevant to this permit.

Surface Water Identification

• Surface Water Quality Segments Viewer – This interactive map shows stream segments and water bodies monitored by TCEQ. You can select a segment or water body for additional information such as segment name, ID number, description, and impairment status.
• Texas Integrated Report of Surface Water Quality – Check if your stormwater discharge enters an impaired water body using the latest Index of All Impaired Waters (Categories 4 and 5). If you discharge a pollutant(s) associated with an impairment, your SWP3 must incorporate the conditions and requirements associated with the total maximum daily load (TMDL) for that impaired water body. Only a portion of impaired waters are associated with an established TMDL.
• Segments with TMDLs – Check if a TMDL exists for any of the water bodies that receive stormwater runoff from your construction site.  

Edwards Aquifer Requirements

Construction taking place over the Recharge, Contributing, or Transition Zones of the Edwards Aquifer may have additional requirements.

• Edwards Aquifer Protection Program
• What Plans You Might Need - This webpage will help you determine the type of plan and forms you need to develop your Edwards Aquifer protection plan. 
• Edwards Aquifer Brochure (RG-011)
• Edwards Aquifer Map Viewer

Forms

Applicants must submit NOI, LREW, Notice of Termination, and Notice of Change forms online using the e-permitting system (STEERS) or obtain an electronic reporting waiver. A separate waiver form is required for each permit and may be obtained by contacting the Stormwater Program at 512-239-3700.

• Delegation of Signatories to Reports (TCEQ Form 20403) – If you have signatory authority, you can choose an authorized representative to sign certain documents and reports for your site, such as the SWP3. Small construction site operators must fill out and mail this form to TCEQ’s Stormwater Team. Large construction site operators must submit this form electronically through STEERS. 
• Construction Site Notice Templates – Using the templates below post the applicable site notice where it can be easily viewed, such as at the site entrance.
  • Large Construction Site Notice for Primary Operators (TCEQ Form 20961)
  • Large Construction Site Notice for Secondary Operators (TCEQ Form 20962)
  • Small Construction Site Notice (TCEQ Form 20963)
  • Small Construction Site Notice: Low Potential for Erosion (TCEQ Form 20964)
• Homeowner Transfer Notice – A home builder may use this form to notify homeowners of the need for final stabilization for a given site. Before transferring ownership of the home to the buyer, the builder must establish temporary soil stabilization.    

Tools and Additional Guidance 

• Description of Best Management Practices
• EPA’s Rainfall Erosivity Factor Calculator
• Primary and Secondary Operators Under the Construction General Permit (RG-468)
• Compliance Assistance Center for the Construction Industry
• Latitude and Longitude

Small Business and Local Government Assistance

TCEQ's Small Business and Local Government Assistance section offers free, confidential help to small businesses and local governments working to follow state environmental regulations. Call us at 800-447-2827 or visit our webpage at TexasEnviroHelp.org.

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