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NPDES Electronic Reporting Rule

Provides an overview of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) electronic reporting rule, updates to effective dates, and a summary of completed outreach efforts.

Electronic Reporting Rule Overview

On Sept. 24, 2015, EPA signed the Final National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Electronic Reporting Rule which requires NPDES regulated entities to electronically submit specific permit and compliance monitoring information instead of filing paper reports.

This rule is being implemented in two phases. Phase I became effective on Dec. 21, 2016, and Phase II will become effective on Dec. 21, 2025. Please note, although EPA extended the compliance deadline for implementation of Phase II from Dec. 21, 2020 to Dec. 21, 2025, TCEQ is implementing some of the Phase II requirements prior to this federal deadline. Regulated entities should refer to their TCEQ authorizations for specific compliance deadlines.

The following is a summary of the Phase I and Phase II requirements and updates as they apply to NPDES regulated entities.

Phase I Requirements—effective Dec. 21, 2016

  • All NPDES regulated entities that are required to submit discharge monitoring reports (DMRs) must do so electronically using NetDMR.
  • NPDES regulated entities include facilities that discharge wastewater (for example, facilities classified as major or minor dischargers, individually permitted facilities, and facilities covered by general permits).

Phase II Requirements—effective Dec. 21, 2025

  • All NPDES regulated entities that are required to submit a notice of intent (NOI), a notice of termination (NOT), a no exposure certification (NEC), or a low erosivity waiver (LEW) must do so electronically using STEERS.
  • NPDES regulated entities that are required to submit the following periodic reports must do so electronically:
    • Sewage Sludge/Biosolids Annual Program Reports,
    • Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Annual Reports,
    • Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Program Reports,
    • Pretreatment Annual Reports,
    • Significant Industrial User Compliance Reports (in municipalities without approved pretreatment programs),
    • Sewer Overflow/Bypass Event Reports, and
    • CWA Section 316(b) Annual Reports.

Requirements Implemented Prior to Federal Deadlines

Although EPA extended the compliance deadline for implementation of Phase II until Dec. 21, 2025, TCEQ is implementing some of the Phase II requirements prior to this federal deadline. Regulated entities should refer to their TCEQ authorizations for specific compliance deadlines.

  • Effective Sept. 1, 2017, applicants seeking authorization under the Multi-Sector General Permit (TXR050000), Ready Mixed Concrete General Permit (TXG110000), and the Pesticide General Permit (TXG870000) must submit applicable applications (i.e., Notice of Intent (NOI), No Exposure Certification (NEC), Notice of Termination (NOT), Notice of Change (NOC)) using the online e-permitting system (STEERS) available through the TCEQ website.

  • Effective Sept. 1, 2018, applicants seeking authorization under the Construction General Permit (TXR150000) must submit applicable applications (i.e., Notice of Intent (NOI), Notice of Termination (NOT), Notice of Change (NOC), Low Rainfall Erosivity Waiver (LREW)) using the online e-permitting system (STEERS) available through the TCEQ website.

  • Beginning Sept. 30, 2021, regulated entities must submit Sewage Sludge/Biosolids Annual Program Reports electronically using EPA's NPDES eReporting Tool for Biosolids (“NeT-Biosolids”).

Electronic Reporting Waivers


Request an Electronic Reporting Waiver

If a facility is unable to send their information electronically, TCEQ may grant temporary waivers to the electronic reporting rule. These facilities can submit a Request for Electronic Reporting Waiver Microsoft Word Document form (TCEQ-20754). A separate form is required for each permit or authorization requesting a waiver.

TCEQ Letters Issuing Waivers Extending Deadlines

TCEQ has mailed the following electronic reporting waiver letters to affected permittees.

  • June 2020—Temporary waiver letters were mailed to facilities required to submit Sewage Sludge/Biosolids Annual Program Reports. These reports included the submittal of TPDES Sludge Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) and supporting written information. The waiver only applied to the written information (for example: sewage sludge certification statements and analytical lab test reports). It did not apply to sludge DMRs, which were required to be submitted using the NetDMR reporting system until the waiver expired on December 21, 2020.

  • June 2020—Temporary waiver letters were mailed to facilities required to submit Pretreatment Annual Reports because the online reporting tool is not yet available. This temporary waiver expires on December 21, 2023.

  • Aug. 2020—Permanent waiver letters were issued for the permit term of Texas Land Application Permits (TLAPs) because the federal electronic reporting requirements were inadvertently included in some of these state permits.

  • Aug. 2020—Temporary waiver letters were mailed to Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) with permits that require electronic written reports for Unauthorized Discharges and Unanticipated Bypasses. The online reporting tool is not yet available, and this temporary waiver expires on December 21, 2023.

  • Dec. 2020—Update regarding annual reports for Phase I and Phase II Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Stormwater Permits: These permits require annual reports to be submitted electronically as of September 1, 2020, and December 21, 2020, respectively; however, the online reporting tool is not yet available.

  • March 2022—TCEQ issued a temporary waiver from submitting discharge monitoring reports (DMRs) electronically for the MSGP (TXR050000). The waiver expired on April 1, 2022. 

  • Nov. and Dec. 2023—Temporary waiver letters were mailed to regulated entities with permits that require electronic submission of reports for Unauthorized Discharges and Unanticipated Bypasses, Pretreatment Annual Reports, CAFO Annual Reports, and Phase I MS4 Annual Reports. The temporary waiver for electronic reporting expires on Dec. 21, 2025.

Completed Outreach Efforts

The TCEQ has provided information on this rule to regulated entities, trade associations, training providers, advisory committee members, and permittees through electronic newsletters, outreach events, workshops, and meetings throughout the state. In addition, the following outreach materials have been distributed on this topic.

More Help

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.