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Wastewater Discharges from Oil and Gas Extraction Facilities: Am I Regulated?

Find out if your oil and gas extraction facility needs coverage under TPDES General Permit TXG310000 or an individual permit to discharge wastewater

TCEQ has issued a new Oil and Gas Extraction TPDES General Permit No. TXG310000, with an effective date of January 10, 2024.

Facilities Likely to be Regulated

This permit regulates discharges of wastewater associated with oil and gas extraction activities into water in the state from onshore stripper well facilities east of the 98th meridian, coastal facilities, and territorial seas facilities. Discharges authorized under this permit are restricted to oil and gas extraction activities in Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, (40 CFR) Part 435.

You may be eligible for coverage under this permit if you plan to release into water in the state wastes associated with oil and gas extraction activities as follows.

Onshore stripper well facility located east of the 98th meridian that produces one or more of the following wastes:

  • produced wastewater
  • well treatment fluids
  • workover fluids

Coastal facility that produces one or more of the following wastes:

  • deck drainage
  • domestic waste
  • sanitary waste
  • uncontaminated miscellaneous discharges
  • contaminated miscellaneous discharges

Territorial seas facility that produces one or more of the following wastes:

  • produced wastewater and hydrate control fluids
  • well treatment, completion, and workover fluids
  • deck drainage
  • domestic waste
  • sanitary waste
  • uncontaminated miscellaneous discharges
  • contaminated miscellaneous discharges

Activities not Covered by this Permit

Oil and gas extraction activities not associated with discharges into water in the state are regulated by the Railroad Commission and potentially EPA. Such activities include, but are not limited to drilling new wells, plugging and abandoning existing wells, blowout prevention control, spill prevention, surface coatings and preparation, and other activities not associated with discharges into water in the state.

This general permit does not authorize discharges that are:

  • Adjacent to water in the state (e.g., land application or evaporation) for wastes transported onshore from oil and gas extraction activities.
  • From onshore facilities defined in 40 CFR Part 435, Subparts C and E.
  • From facilities located greater than 3.0 statute miles from the coastline in an area of the Gulf of Mexico commonly referred to as the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). For discharges from these facilities, see the Oil and Gas Outer Continental Shelf webpage.
  • From facilities located west of the 98th meridian.
  • From stripper well facilities to tidally influenced or marine water bodies.
  • Hydrostatic test water. Oil and gas extraction facilities may obtain coverage under TPDES General Permit No. TXG670000 or an individual TPDES discharge permit.

Next Steps

If you think-after reading the general permit-that might be appropriate for you, continue to Applying for Coverage under the Oil and Gas Extraction TPDES General Permit TXG310000 to learn more and see how to apply.


If you don't qualify for coverage under the general permit, you may require an individual permit for any discharge released. Contact us if you have questions.

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