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Pesticides General Permit: Am I Regulated?

This page provides information about who is required to obtain coverage under General Permit No. TXG870000 and who qualifies for coverage. It also provides information on how to apply as well as links to relevant forms and guidance.

TCEQ reissued the Pesticides General Permit (PGP) No. TXG870000 with an effective date of October 20, 2021.

You are required to obtain permit coverage if you discharge biological or chemical pesticides that leaves a residue in water when such applications are made into, over, or near waters of the United States.

If you are a level IA, you must submit a Notice of Intent form before February 1, 2022.

The forms are available on the TCEQ website at https://www.tceq.texas.gov/publications/search_forms.html. You can search by the following form numbers for the different operator level.


You are required to obtain permit coverage if you discharge biological or chemical pesticides that leaves a residue in water when such applications are made into, over, or near waters of the United States.

You may obtain authorization under the Pesticides General Permit TXG870000 for the control of the following pests:

      • Mosquitoes and Other Insects
      • Vegetation and Algae
      • Animal Pests
      • Area-Wide Pests
      • Forest-Canopy Pests

If you do not qualify for the general permit TXG870000 due to the limitations in Part II.C.1–7 or if you treat other types of pests, then you must obtain authorization through an Individual Permit.

Please contact the program area at 512-239-4671 or e-mail us at PGP@tceq.texas.gov if an Individual Permit is required.

The general permit identifies annual thresholds as follows:

Mosquitoes and Other Insect Pests

Pest-management area of at least 6,400 acres and containing U.S. waters.

Vegetation and Algae Pests

Treatment area of at least 100 acres in water or 200 linear miles at the water’s edge.

Animal Pests

Operators treating a treatment area greater than or equal to 100 acres in water or greater than or equal to 200 linear miles at the water’s edge.

Area-Wide Pests

Pest-management area of at least 6,400 acres and containing U.S. waters.

Forest-Canopy Pests

Pest-management area of at least 6,400 acres and containing U.S. waters.

Level IA

You are a level IA operator if you are a public organization (such as a government) and apply:

  • a restricted-use pesticide (RUP), a state limited-use (SLUP) pesticide, or a regulated herbicide (RH) to waters of the U.S.;
  • where there is public or private access; and
  • above the annual threshold.

You are also a level IA operator if you are a private party (such as an individual or company) and apply:

  • an RUP, SLUP, or RH to waters of the U.S.;
  • where there is public access; and
  • above the annual threshold.

A level IA operator must obtain coverage under the General Permit.

Level IB

You are a level IB operator if you apply above the annual threshold and meet one of the following:

  • are a public organization applying general use pesticide (GUP) to waters of the U.S. where there is public or private access;
  • are a private party applying GUP to waters of the U.S. where there is public access; or
  • are a private party applying RUP, SLUP, RH, or GUP to waters of the U.S. where there is only private access.

Level IB Operators are required to submit a Self-Certification Form (TCEQ 20604) Microsoft Word Document to their TCEQ Regional Office to obtain coverage under Pesticides General Permit TXG870000.

Level II

You are a level II operator if you are below the annual threshold and you meet one of the following:

  • a public organization applying RUP, SLUP or RH to waters of the U.S. where there is public access;
  • a public organization applying GUP to 1 acre or more of waters of the U.S. where there is private access;
  • a private party applying RUP, SLUP or RH to waters of the U.S. where there is public access; or
  • a private party applying GUP to 1 acre or more of waters of the U.S. where there is private access.

Level II Operators are required to fill out and keep onsite a Self Certification Form (TCEQ 20605) Microsoft Word Document to obtain coverage under Pesticides General Permit TXG870000.

Level III

You are a level III operator if you meet the following:

  • a public organization or private party applying GUP to less than 1 acre of waters of the U.S. where there is public or private access.

Level III Operators are not required to fill out any form to obtain coverage under Pesticides General Permit TXG870000.

Step 1. Review your compliance history ranking:

  • If your facility has a ranking of "high," "satisfactory," or "inadequate information" continue to Step 2.
  • If the compliance history ranking is "unsatisfactory," then your facility is not eligible for coverage under a general permit. You must apply for an individual permit instead.

Step 2. Submit a notification package.

New Level IA Operator

To obtain a new authorization, you must submit an application through TCEQ’s online e-permitting system (STEERS) using these instructions(TCEQ 20604) . NOTE: If you do not have access to a computer, you must request and obtain an electronic reporting waiver to submit your application by mail. Electronic reporting waivers are not transferable and expire on the same date as the authorization to discharge.

Existing Level IA Operator

To renew an existing authorization, you must complete and submit a paper application form (Notice of Intent) by mail.

  • Notice of Intent (TCEQ-20601)
  • Core Data Form (TCEQ-10400) - Instructions to Fill Core Data Form (TCEQ-10400-inst)
  • Mail the completed package to: Application Review and Processing Team MC 148 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality P.O. Box 13087 Austin, Texas 78711-3087
  • Submit and application Fee ($100) to: Pay online by ePay Or Mail to: Financial Administrative Division, Revenue Section MC 214 Texas Commission on Environmental Quality P.O. Box 13088 Austin TX 78711-3088

Step 3. Application Review.

Provisional coverage under this general permit begins immediately when submitted through STEERS or 48 hours after the postmarked date of the NOI, when mailed.

We will review the NOI and take one of the following actions:

    • If everything is acceptable, we will send you an acknowledgment letter to authorize your coverage.
    • If any information is incomplete or missing, we will send you a letter requesting the necessary information. You will have 30 days (about a month) to respond to this request.
    • If coverage has been denied, we will send you a denial letter (usually the result of information requested in the NOD not being provided).

You must keep a copy of the NOI and the acknowledgement certificate onsite.

Keep a copy on-site

Maintain a current copy of General Permit TXG870000 on site and adhere to the requirements of the permit.

Complete the annual report

Complete the annual report and maintain a copy of it on site. The annual report must be made promptly available to TCEQ upon request.

Notify TCEQ of changes

Submit a Notice of Change (NOC) through STEERS to notify TCEQ of a change to an existing authorization. You must submit an NOC if the owner or operator becomes aware that it failed to submit any relevant facts, submitted incorrect information in an NOI or previously submitted information has changed.

Submit an NOT

Submit a Notice of Termination (NOT) for an existing authorization through STEERS when all discharges authorized by the permit are eliminated, completed, or if the operator or owner changes.

Note: Permit coverage is considered Active until an NOT is submitted. Annual water quality fees will accrue on September 1st of each year the permit is Active.

Adverse Incident Reporting Form

Within 24 hours of becoming aware of the potentially adverse incident, notify your nearest TCEQ regional office(TCEQ 20604) or call the TCEQ 24-Hour Spill Reporting Line at 1-800-832-8224.

Within 14 days of becoming aware of an adverse incident, submit the Adverse Incident Report Form Adverse Incident Report Form to your nearest TCEQ regional office.

Other Pesticides General Permit Documents

Fact Sheet and Executive Director's Preliminary Decision

Additional Links to Related Topics

Emergency Control of Moquitoes

EPA Endangered Species Bulletins

Texas Department of Agriculture Programs

Texas Department of State Health Services

Contact the program area at 512-239-4671 or e-mail us at PGP@tceq.texas.gov if you have questions about TXG870000.