Oil and Gas Wastewater Permits
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Permitting Authority
Currently, TCEQ does not have the authority to issue wastewater discharge permits from crude oil or natural gas exploration, development, or production.
If you discharge wastewater from these oil or gas activities into surface water in the state, you must obtain a discharge permit from the Railroad Commission of Texas
and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6.
If you dispose of wastewater from these oil and gas activities by evaporation, land application, or reuse, you must obtain a permit from the Railroad Commission of Texas.
Back to topHouse Bill 2771
House Bill (HB) 2771 (86th Legislature, 2019) requires TCEQ to submit a request to EPA for the authority to regulate wastewater discharges into water in the state from crude oil and natural gas exploration, development, or production.
Additionally, should EPA grant regulatory authority to TCEQ, the bill will transfer state permitting authority for these discharges from the Railroad Commission of Texas to TCEQ.
Oil and Gas Stakeholder Group
If you are interested in the implementation of HB 2771, please see TCEQ's webpage for the oil and gas stakeholder group, which is open to the public.
To be added to the stakeholder list for future meetings and correspondence about this bill, or if you have other comments or questions, please email HB2771@tceq.texas.gov.
Additional Information
Contact Us
For questions or comments about HB 2771 or oil and gas wastewater permits, contact us at HB2771@tceq.texas.gov.
TCEQ's Small Business and Local Government Assistance Section offers free, confidential help to small businesses and local governments working to comply with state environmental regulations. Call us at (800) 447-2827 or visit TexasEnviroHelp.